Scientific American Volume 46 Number 11 (March 1882)

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[Entered at the Post Office of New York, N. Y„ as Second Class Matter.]

A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF PRACTICAL INFORMATION, ART. SCIENCE. MECHANICS, CHEMISTRY AND MANUFACTURES.

Vol. VLVl.-No. 11.

[new series.]

1

NEW YORK, MARCH 18, 1882.

[ $.1.20 per Annum.

L [POSTAGE PREPAID.]

PROPOSED ELECTRIC LIGHT TOWER AT NEW ORLEANS.

The convenience and economy of electric illumination for
harbors and water fronts, particularly when it is desirable to
handle freight by night as well as by day, have been amply
demonstrated in this countryand in Europe. The experience
of Liverpool on this point has been especially valuable, both
in showing the economy of the electric light for docks and
shipping, and the very satisfactory working of lights raised
high in the air.

The crescent shape of the river front at New Orleans, the
massing of the shipping business along a comparatively short
reach of shore, and the broad open space alon^ the levee to

be illuminated, conspire to make the elevated electric light
especially serviceable and appropriate there; while the high
cost of wharfage makes it extremely desirable that every
possible facility should be afforded forthe rapid transference
of the vast cargoes of cotton, sugar, grain, and other bulky
commodities handled at that port. It is doubtful whether
there is in the whole country another space of equal magni-
tude calculated to be so largely benefited by the new
method of lighting as the busy crescent of the New Orleans
levee.

Two serious obstacles have been encountered in the prac-
tical development of plans of securing such artificial iilumi

nation on a grand scale by means of powerful electric lamps
raised on lofty towers. The towers are costly and not easy
to erect; and a good deal of awkward machinery is required
to lower the lamps for trimming every day and return
them to their position at the top of the mast. To do away
with the latter difficulty entirely and to very materially lessen
the former are the objects of the light tower invented by
Mr. William Golding, of New Orleans, and illustrated by the
engravings herewith.

From time immemorial a standard illustration of perversity
and impracticableness has been the man who would begin to
[Continued on page 162.]

ELECTRIC LIGHT TOWER TOR CANAL STREET AND LEVEE NEW ORLEANS-DESIGNED BY WM. GOLDING, M.E.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

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Sftitutiiit %mttitm.

[March 18, 1882.

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NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1882.

Contents.

(Illustrated articles are marked with an asterisk.!

Agricultural Inventions 162

Americans, representative, some 162
Asiatic tribes in North America. 169
Bacteria, transformation of. . 160

Bald Mountain, fall of 169

Ballooning failure, another.. ... 162

Baro netric pressure, high ISO

Birds' nests, two-story* 169

Brain wound, remarkable Nil

Bricks, waterproof — 170

Car coupling, safety, new* 163

Cavern, Luray, map of* 164

clog soles and wooden shoes 168

Diatoms, to clean (7) 171

Electric light tower at New Or-
leans*. 159

Elevated Railway, Berlin 160

Embalming. Brunei Ii process of. 169

Engineering inventions — 170

Explosion of a locomotive 162

Export edition of the Sci. Am... 161
Fat, human, composition of. . . 169

Fire escape, improved* 167

Fisn sniano. Norwegian 169

Gelatin from sea weed (4) 171

Gun, hammerless, four-barreled* 167

Hanger for h;ivs and coats* 163

Human fat, composition of 169

Ice, expanding power of 164

Inventions, agricultural 163

Inventions, engineering 170

Inventions, mechanical 168

Inventions, miscellaneous 164

Inventions, new 16fi

Inventions, recent. . 163

Iron spots, to remove (6) 171

Legislation, patent, proposed

Light, electric, at New Orleans*.

Lock, nut, improved*

Locomotive, explosion of a.. . .
Luray caverns by electric light*.

Mats for the river front

Mechanical inventions —

Milk of lime, to make (3)

Moon. the. mental distance of. ..

Mosaics, how made

Notes and queries , — ^

Orinoco natives, habits of

Oxidizing gold and silver (5)

Paper negatives, to make

Patent decision, important... ...

Patent legislation, proposed

Plaster.to preventfrom adhering

Practical men, demand for

Railwav-crossing invent, wanted

Railway matters

Railway wear and tear

Rein holder, novel*

River, undergound. an

^cars and cicatrices, removal of.

Schooner, a, sunk by rats.

Hci. Am. export edition

Science of teaching

Sense of touch the

Side-saddle girth, new.

Stock alarm for locomotives* —

Teaching, science of

Telegraph cable, ocean

Tidal power

Tool holder for grindstones*

Touch, the sense of

Wasps, six cents a piece for

TABLE OP CONTENTS OF

THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT,

KTo. 324,

For tlie Week ending March IS, 18S2.
Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers

PAGE

I. ENGINEERING AND MECHANICS. -Maoblne Tools for Boiler

Makers. 2 figures.— Improved boiler plate radial drill.— Improved
boiler plate bending roller 5159

Modern Ordnance. By COLONEL M ArTLAND.— Rifled cannon.—
Built guns.— steel castings.— Breech loading.— Long guns.— Slow .
burning of powder.— Breech closers.— Projectiles.— Destructive
power of guns 5163

Oscillating Cylinder Locomotive. 2 figures.— Shaw's oscillating
cylinder locomotive 5161

Gas Motors and Producers By C. W. Siemens— 2 figures 5162

The Bazin System of Dredging. By A A. LANGLET .— 3 figures. , 5162

II. CHEMISTRy.-Onthe Madriatic Alkaloids. By Albert La den-
BBUG-— I. Atropine .—II. The Atropine of Datura Stramonium.—
III. Hyoacyamine from Hyoscyamus 5167

Detection of Small Quantities of Morphia. By A. Jorissen 5167

The Estimation of Manganese by Titration. Bv C. G. Sarx-

STROM 5167

On the Estimation and Separation of .Manganese. By Nelson

H. Darton 5168

Delicate Test for Oxygen 5172

Determination of small Quantities of Arsenic in Sulphur. By H.

Schaeppi 5172

III. BIOLOGY. ETC.— Researcheson AnimalsContaining Chlorophyl.
—Abstract of a long and valuable paper " On the Nature and Func-
tions of the Yellow Cells nf Radiolanans and Ocelenterates." read

to the Royal Society of Kdinburgh. By Patrick Geddes 5168

The Hibernation of Animals. An interesting review of the win-
ter habits of some of our familiar animals, insects, etc 5173

IV. HORTICULTURE, SILK CULTURE. ETC.-IIow to Plant Trees. ,
By N. Robertson' 5172

The Growth of Palms 5172

The Future of Silk Culture in the United States. Report of
United States Consul Peixotto. of Lyons. A valuable and en-
couraging summary of the conditions and prospects of silk cul-
ture in the United States 5172

V. TECHNOLOGY, ET".-Compressed Oil Gas for Lighting Cars,
Steamboats, and Buoys. An elaborate description of the appa-
ratus and appliances of the Pintsch system of illumination. 14
figures. Elevation and plan of works.— Cars.— Locomotive and car
lamps— Buoys.— Regulations, etc 5169

VI. ART, ARCHITECTURE, ETC.-Cast Iron in Architecture .... 5163

Suggestions in Decorative Art. 1 figure. Decorations and Furni-
ture designed- by F. VVirth's Sons 5164

VII. ELECTRICITY, MAGNETISM. ETC.-On the Mechanical Pro-
duction of Elecrric Currents. 12 figures 5165

Kousse's Secondary Battery 5166

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS.— Dangers from Lightning in Blasting 5163

The Tincal Trade of Asia 5164

Sir W. Palliser. Obituary and summary of his inventions 5164

The Tides. Influence of the tides upon the history of the earth. 5174
Drilling Glass 5174

PROPOSED PATENT LEGISLATION.

Several bills of general interest to patentees are now await-
ing action by the Committee on Patents.

Senate bill No. 1,226, introduced by Mr. Call, February
16, proposes to introduce a novel and questionable practice
designed to limit the rights of owners of extended patents.
It provides tbat when letters patent for a valuable invention
have been extended, owing to the failure of the patentee to
receive reasonable compensation for his invention in conse-
quence of poverty and inabilityto manufacture and intro-
duce his invention, the extended patent shall not give any
right to the exclusive manufacture and sale of the invention.
The manufacture and sale must be open to the public, sub-
ject only to the payment, to the inventor, of a royalty not
exceeding for the first year a net amount of 20 per centum on
the cost of the materials used in the manufacture of the
article, and diminishing in a regular ratio each successive
year during the life of the patent.

The bill further provides that in all cases where letters
patent shall be extended under the provisions of the act, the
Commissioner of Patents shall advertise the application for
the space of three months in some newspaper of general cir-
culation, and a hearing be given to all persons objecting to
the extension; the applicant is allowed the right of appeal to
the District Court of the United States for the District of
Columbia, on giving bond for cost. The cosl of the adver-
tisement is to be paid by the inventor if he is able; if not it
is to be paid out of the fund subject to the control of the
Commissioner of Patents, and remain a lien in favor of the
government on the patent until the same is paid.

A bill introduced by Mr. Piatt, February 17 (S. 1,238), to
regulate practice in suits forinfringement where the purchase
is made in good faith for the defendant's personal use, pro-
vides that if the plain'.iff does not recover twenty dollars' or
over he shall have to pay costs, unless the defendant had
actual notice of the existence of the patent or disputes the
plaintiff's right to recover anything.

It further provides that when suit is brought against a de-
fendant other than a manufacturer or seller the plaintiff
shall first deposit with the clerk of the court the sum of fifty
dollars as security for the costs and expenses of the defend-
ant. In case the defendant prevails the deposit (or a
" reasonable" part of it) is to be allowed by the court for
counsel to the defendant, and the plaintiff will have to pay
the costs in addition.

The obvious purpose of this bill is to repress suits against
actually or suspectedinfringingusers of patented inventions;
and while it may be calculated to prevent certain alleged
abuses its discrimination against patentees of small inven-
tions is certainly not in harmony with the general spirit of
the patent laws.

In the House Mr. Skinner introduced, February 13, a bill
to limit the reissue of patents (H. K. 4,353). It forbids the
reissue of patents except within three months of the issue of
the patent in all new cases, and within three months of the
passage of the proposed actio case of all patents already
in existence.

The principle of limiting the period during which a
patent may be surrendered for reissue is good; but it may
reasonably be questioned whether a three months' limit is
not too brief.

A bill introduced by Mr. Vance, February 20 (H. R.
4,573), makes it the duty of the Attorney General to take
legal proceedings in equity in the Supreme Court of the Dis-
trict of Columbia to secure the annulling of any patent
which he has ground for believing to have been procured by
fraud or misrepresentation. In case the party at whose com-
plaint the proceeding is begun fails to establish the invalid-
ity of the patent he will have to pay the costs incurred by
the Attorney General in the litigation.

m < ■ > >

THE TRANSFORMATION OP BACTERIA.

The transformation of the innocent bacteria usually found
in healthy organisms into the specific forms associated with
certain more or less malignant diseases is something quite
unexpected and altogether contrary to prevailing theories;
yet: the experiments lately made by Dr. Rosenberger, at
Wurzburg, strongly indicate that such may sometimes be
the case.

Dr. Rosenberger's experiments were begun to determine
the cause of the death of an animal poisoned with a septi-
csemic virus, which had been heated so as to destroy all the
bacteria in it. The prevailing belief is that cooked virus is
simply a poison, and that the injection of it into the blood
of a healthy animal kills as strychnia does, as a poison, not
as an infection. To decide this question septic blood and
serum were heated, filtered, evaporated, and then injected.
The animals died with all the symptoms and pathological
appearances of septicaemia, just as if uncooked virus had
been used. The only etfect of the cooking was to lessen
the virulence of the poison, which, however, was redevel-
oped in the blood of the animals poisoned. To insure the
killing of all the micro-organisms in the cooked virus, the
virus was exposed to a temperature of 140° Cent, for two
hours; and that this temperature was sufficient to sterilize
the liquid was proved by the inaction of it (the cooked
virus) in culture liquids.

The inference from Dr. Rosenberger's observations is, as
pointed out by the Lancet, that the application of a degree
of heat which apparently sterilizes effectually a septicsemic
virus, so far as artificial cultivation of the organism is con-
cerned, does not prevent the virus from producing in the
animal body its specific form of septicsemic and of septic

bacteria. From these facts the startling conclusion is drawn
that the bacteria are not primary but secondary elements
in the morbid process, and that their development is asso-
ciated with a chemical or at least unorganized poison; a
poison, however, which the bacteria are the means, and the
only means, of multiplying in the animal body. Since these
septic bacteria are not contained in the cooked virus when
it is injected, the question arises: How then do they come
to be in the poisoned animal, which was previously with-
out them ?

Dr. Rosenberger holds that they arise from the non-specific
bacteria already in the organism; in other words, that under
certain conditions bacteria may radically change their nature,
so that from being harmless they become virulently malig-
nant. This conclusion is in harmony with the results of
Buchner's observations, which seemed, though not conclu-
sively, to show that the bacillus of anthrax might be devel-
oped from a n on specific fungus found in li V ; and also
with the observations of Rossbach in connection with the
physiological action of papayotin, a chemical ferment of
vegetable origin, which, when injected into the blood of a
perfectly healthy animal, causes such a multiplication of
bacteria as to produce effects comparable with those of a
true infection.

If these observations are sustained by further experiments
in this direction, the current theories with regard to the ori-
gin of certain specific diseases by infection, always and ex-
clusively, will have to be materially modified; and the posi-
tion maintained by many intelligent physicians in retired
places, that specific diseases like typhoid fever, scarlet fever,
and the like, do sometimes originate where the theory of
infection is untenable, will be abundantly justified.

— ■ m t ■ > »■

Effects of High Barometric Pressure.

In connection with the recent high barometric pressure
some noteworthy phenomena have occurred. Thus, at
Antibes (a seaport hi the southeast of France) the sea level
was depressed about a foot, laying bare portions of shore
over which boats can usually sail, and exposing surprised sea
slugs and other marine animals to the direct raysof the sun.
This continued about a fortnight, and is attributed by M.
Faye to the high air pressure. Again, General de Nansouty
reports from the observatory at the top of the Pic du Midi
that the lowest temperature there this winter has been only
— 5° C, and during the recent high pressure, from January
8 to 20, the air being in a state of exceptional purity, tem-
peratures as high as 26° C. were registered. The highest at
Bagneres-de-Bigorre is considerably short of this, so that we
have here an inversion of temperature with altitude. The
General states further that from the 1st of January the zodi-
acal light was distinctly made out; probably this has never
happened before in our climates, so near the winter solstice.
Once more, the General and his assistants, on January 20, at
6:30 P. M., saw distinctly the earthshine on the moon and
the thin crescent, though only 25 hours 46 minutes old.

■ : 4 ISI »

Berlin Elevated Hallway.

The City Railroad (elevated) in Berlin, built by the gov-
ernment and opened February 7, has cost about $ 16,000,000
— $2,300,000 per mile. It was projected (but not by the
government) some ten years ago, when Berlin was growing
with unexampled rapidity, and the crowding of the city
and the rents paid for the poorest quarters were absolutely
frightful, and when, too, there were practically no horse
railroads. Now there are many street railroads, and the
high rents caused such a furor of building that there are
said to be 15,000 unrented dwellings in the city. The new
road, however, is thought to have fair prospects of financial
success. By building it the government avoided an ex-
penditure of $2,500,000 for a station for one of its roads,
and it will be of very great value as a connection of exist-
ing railroads, used for bringing suburban trains from vari-
ous lines into the heart of the city — something as if the sub-
urban trains of the New Jersey roads entered New York
over one of the elevated roads and stopped at all its stations.

Mental Distance of the Moon.

M. Plateau lately sought to estimate the distance to which
the moon is mentally referred in the sky, by getting some
one, after looking at that body, to project the accidental
image on a wall, then move to or from the wall till the dia-
meter of the image seemed equal to that of the moon; and
he obtained the distance 51 meters. Again, Prof. Thirion,
of Namur, got twelve students to draw on a blackboard a
circle the size of the moon as it appeared to them. The
circles varied from 19 to 79 cm., mean 32 cm , and it was
inferred that the moon was mentally referred, on the aver-
age, to about 35 meters. Dr. Charpentier, by still another
method, obtains the value 12 '9 meters, so that there are
great differences, and in any case the distance is much less
than might have been thought. M. Plateau lias, says
Nature, further applied accidental images to finding the
distance to which the imaginary celestial vault is referred.
A spot in a white square of paper on a dark ground was
looked at steadily at the side of an open window for twenty
seconds, then the person looked skywards, above the oppo-
site houses, then to one of these houses, and compared the
sizes of the accidental images in either case. The sides of
the two were by one person estima.ted as 5 to 6, by another
as 4 to 5; and the width of street being about 30 meters, the
distance assigned to the celestial vault is inferred to be in
one case 30, in the other 29 meters. A similar result was
got by night.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

March 18, 1882.]

Sftxtuiiixt %mvxau.

161

A RAILWAY-CROSSING INVENTION WANTED.

Notwithstanding the fact that American railroad man-
agers have adopted various devices to pre vent accidents where
highways cross railways at grade, the list of accidents at
crossings is a long one. In m'any instances of death and
damage at crossings the blame should properly rest with the
victims, as it is usually the result of their own carelessness
or stupidity. But in case of storms the bell or whistle may
not be heard, or in foggy darkness and deep cuttings on
curves the head light may not be seen, and the passer may
keep a sharp lookout and still be caught. It not unfre-
quently happens that enginemen neglect to sound either
whistle or bell at crossings; this is of ten the cause of dis-
aster; or the attention of one or both enginemen is suddenly
drawn to some urgent matters pertaining to their duty, and
the whistle and bell escape their minds until the crossing is

Formerly, railroad companies were constantly under
prosecution for neglecting to give the customary warnings
at crossings, or not blowing the whistle, or commencing to
ring the bell at the distance from the crossing prescribed by
legislative enactment. As a remedy for this, the prescribed
distance was measured each way from crossings, and posts
set that engineers might know at what point the law re-
quired them to sound the alarm, which would relieve the
company from blame in case of accident. This plan was
not without its merits, but for reasons already explained
these posts would be run past unheeded, and they did not
afford the desired protection.

Another plan was the steam bell ringer. By this arrange-
ment the bell could be set ringing at any desired point, and
the ringing would continue until stopped by the engineman.
By this arrangement the bell could be set going at any de-
sired point, and firing, oiling, or other duties attended to un-
til the crossing was passed; the bell needing no attention.
But it occasionally happened that, like running past the
whistle or ring posts unheeded, the bell was not set ringing,
and the crossing was passed without any warning.

Another plan was to place a bell stationary on the truck
frame, under the head light, and a hammer that struck the
bell was actuated by a rod and eccentric attached to the
driving shaft. This gave a stroke of the bell at every revo-
lution of the driving wheel. Residents along lines using
this device could judge of the speed of the train by the
strokes of the bell. "When it was not desired that the bell
should ring, it was thrown out of gear. This plan, like the
others, was good when properly attended to; but when for-
gotten was liable to cause serious mischief.

The public are accustomed to listen for warning at cross-
ings, and if a sound is not heard or signal shown, the}' are
led into a trap; hence such devices as above mentioned, not
being self operating, are elements of danger ratherthan pro-
tection. The foregoing has reference to grade crossings in
the country. In cities and towns, safety gates are operated
by an attendant, or flag-men are employed, but at country
crossings the whistle and bell are relied upon as protection.

Various other devices have been resorted to to save life at
crossings, but none of them meets the requirements, and a
perfect crossing alarm is one of the pressing needs of the day.
Railroad companies are subjected to enormous expense by
interminable lawsuits arising from accidents at crossings,
and it is believed that every railroad company would will-
ingly pay an}' reasonable price for a reliable crossing signal.
Here is a rare opportunity for inventors, and it is earnestly
hoped they will take advantage of it.

The foregoing has been written to point out to inventors,
in a measure, what has been done in this line in order that
they may not go over ground already worked; and, although
we have not mentioned a tithe of the inventions that have
been brought out for the purpose under consideration, those
alluded to are the nearest perfect of any in use, and would
be the most likely to be reproduced by inventors who are
not familiar with the general subject.

There are also gongs placed at the crossings which are de-
signed to be sounded by approaching trains through the
medium of electric appliances, or a system of wires and
levers operated by the wheels of passing trains; but
none of these is satisfactory on account of liability to de-
rangement Either of these two latter plans contains the ele-
ments of success when thoroughly perfected, and this would
seem to be the right direction for the inventor to work to
insure success. As already explained, any device depend-
ing on the vigilance of train-men to operate is unreliable, and
the only safe arrangement seems to be in providing a gong
at crossings which shall be sounded automatically and con-
tinuously from the time a train reaches the point prescribed
by law until the crossing is covered by the train. Sema-
phores have been made to act automatically with tolerable
success in daylight, but are of no account in fogs, snow-
storms, or at night. If the gong is used it must be placed in
a suitable box or housing at the crossing, and so arranged
as to render a failure to sound at the proper time an im-
possibility. This may seem as putting it rather strong, but
it must and can be done. Of course such an arrangement
will need constant supervision to be kept in order, and must
be so arranged as not to be rendered inoperative by snow
or ice. Another requirement is that the apparatus shall not
interfere with the work of track repairs. "With a gong
ringing sharply at a crossing, no one would attempt to
cross the track with that stupid indifference engendered by
familiarity with crossings and so characteristic of a large
class of people.

The public demands faster trains, and the increase of traffic
requires a greater number of them, all of which creates a
greater necessity for a reliable danger signal at crossings.

Perhaps some good might result from the enactment and
enforcement of a law compelling all persons to come to a halt
at crossings before attempting to cross. This would afford
them an opportunity to decide whether or not they couid
cross with safety; but as no amount of legislation would be
effective in all cases, it remains for inventors to guard the
public safety to a great extent in this as in many other mat-
ters connected with travel by rail and water.

Wm. S. Htoitington.

[Our correspondent has omitted the mention of the best
plan of all for the prevention of accidents at crossings,
which consists in depressing the track of the railway so as to
pass under the road; or the bridging of the track so as to
carry the road above it. "We believe that in some countries,
and in some towns in this country, this method is required
by law. — Ed.]

How to Make Paper Negatives and Prints.

EY CAPTAIN AENET, K.E., P.US.

In compliance with your request to me, I beg to communi-
cate to you the method of preparation of the bromo-iodized
paper with which my lectures already delivered before the
Society of Arts have been largely illustrated. Before the
rapidity attainable by the gelatino bromide paper, however,
it cannot be hoped that it will be largely utilized. It has,
however, the good quality of cheapness and ease in prepara-
tion, which the gelatine paper has not. The preparation
paper was described at a meeting of the Photographic
Society, in 1880, and with one exception its preparation is
the same as before.

The method of preparation must be adapted to the purpose
for which it is intended to be used. 1st. For the production
of paper negatives.. 2d. For the production of prints. In
the first case the paper is soaked in the following: Potassium
iodide, 200 grains; potassium bromide, 300 grains; water, 20
ounces.

To this is added a solution of iodine i n alcohol till it assumes
a deep claret color. (This is added for the convenience of
knowing when the sensitizing is completed, and is not neces-
sary.) After filtering the solution, the paper, which should
be as smooth as possible (Saxe or Rives answers), is im-
mersed in it, taking care that "no air-bells cling to the sur-
faces, and allowed to remain soaking for. half an hour. The
sheets are turned once or twice during the operation. They
are then taken out and allowed to drain and dry sponta-
neously, after which they are floated on silver nitrate, 500
grains; glacial acetic acid, 1 ounce; water, 20 ounces.

The smooth side of the paper is floated as is done when
albumenized paper is sensitized; after a couple of minutes
the purple or brown tint at the back of the paper will be re-
placed by this yellow bromo-iodide of silver tint. After a
couple more minutes the sheets are removed to a dish of
water to remove the excess of silver. After another wash
the paper is transferred to water containing about fifty grains
of potassium bromide to the pint of water, and allowed to
soak ten minutes. It is then thoroughly washed and dried.
By this plan the paper will be slow. In order to render it
more sensitive it may be given a soak in beer diluted to half
its strength with water to which a little white sugar has been
added, say one lump the size of a nutmeg to a pint; or it
may be floated in a solution of potassium nitrate or sodium
sulphate, about half a grain to the ounce, and then dried.
These would render the paper a good deal more sensitive
than in its normal state, and can be used with safety. Any
sensitizer, such as gallic or pyrogallic acid, might be mixed
with the beer, but in this case care must be taken to wash it
all out before applying the iron developer, since any trace
left will form ink with the iron. The exposure is long, com-
pared with gelatino-bromide paper — say thirty times longer.
I now prefer to develop by brushing over the ferrous-citro-
oxalate developer, using a nearly vertical plate on which to
hang the paper, which should be previously dampened.
This is more economical than using a dish, and is a great
saving in time. The ferrous-oitro-oxalate gives even purer
whites than the ferrous-oxalate, and I therefore recommend
it. The brushes I use are three inch flat badger hair
brushes, and I have found no deterioration in them by use.
From time to time the paper should be examined t o see what
density has been obtained, and when the image is through
the paper it will be found sufficient for printing purposes.
After fixiDg, washing in hot water (to remove the size), and
drying, the paper is waxed in the usual manner.

To obtain prints, plain paper is brushed over on its smooth
surface with the above solution, to which about five grains
to the ounce of gelatine may be added. When dry, a second
coating is given, and when that is dry the paperis floatedon
the above silver nitrate solution for four minutes, after
which it is washed and treated exactly as above, and de-
veloped in the same way.

Pure bromide paper answers almost as well. A solution
of thirty grains to the ounce of potassium bromide is brushed
over the paper twice, which is floated on the silver bath, and
treated as before. To develop such paper it is, however, as
well to add to each ounce of ferrous-citro-oxalate developer
about five grains of common salt. This keeps the whites
purer than they would be without it. Paper so developed
should be beautifully bright and clear in the lights and shades,

and gives excellent prints on which to work if considered de-
sirable. There is a tendency, however, for the prints. pre
pared with bromide alone to have a greenish tint. The
use of the iodide gives a black. This is not astonishing when
it is considered that silver iodide alone develops a ruddy
color. This, mixed with the green, gives a black tone.

I may add that many photographers apparently fail to
make ferrous-citro-oxalate. The plan is as follows: Take
500 grains and dissolve in 5 ounces of water, warm the solu-
tion to boiling point, and then add to it 110 grains of ferrous
oxalate powder. Shake this up immediately in a corked
flask, and it will be found to dissolve It should have a
greenish-red tint, and is then in its most active state. I ad-
vise those who develop collodion dry plates, or gelatino-
chloride, to try tfiis developer, and use it without any re-
strainer. — Photo. News.

■ — — — « m »

How Mosaics are Made.

The London Telegraph has the following: The guardian
in the velvet skull-cap caiKL, to my aid, when I was at fault,
with most courteous explanations. He mentioned incident-
ally that in a portrait of Pope Pius V. there were 1,700,000
pieces, each no larger than a grain of millet; but this state-
ment I take to have been merely guesswork. The enamel,
he proceeded to tell me, is a k ind of glass, colored with me-
tallic oxides, and it is so fusible that it can be drawn out into
threads, small rods, or oblong sticks of varying degrees of
fineness, slightly resembling the type used by compositors.
These polychromatic rods are kept in drawers properly num-
bered, so that the artist always knows to which case to repair
when he requires a fresh supply of a particular tint or tints.
"When the picture is commenced the first step is to place on
the easel a slab of marble, copper, or slate, of the size fixed
upon; and this slab is hollowed out to a depth of about
three and a half inches, leaving a fiat border all round
which will be on a level with the completed mosaic. The
excavated slab is intersected by transverse grooves or chan-
nels, so as to hold more tenaciously the cement in which
the mounts of enamel will be embedded. Then the hol-
lowed slab is filled with " gesso," or plaster-of-Paris, on
which the proposed design is accurately traced in outline, and
usually in pen and ink.

The artist then proceeds to scoop out a small portion of
the plaster with a little sharp tool. He fills up the cavity
thus made with wet cement or " mastic," and into this mas-
tic he successively thrusts the "spiculas," or the "tessera?,"
as the case may be, according to the pattern at his side. In
the broad folds of drapery or in the even shadows of a
background, or a clear sky, his morsels of enamel may be
as large as one of a pair of dice; in the details of lips, or
eyes, or hair, or foliage, or flowers, the bits of glass may be
no larger than pins' heads. The cement, or mastic, is made,
so far as I could gather from my informant, of slaked lime,
finely -powdered Tiburtine marble, and linseed oil, and when
thoroughly dry is as hard as flint. Sometimes the mastic
which fills the cavity is smoothed and painted in fresco with
an exact replica of the pattern, and into this the bits of
glass are driven, according to tint, by means of a small
wooden mallet. If the effect produced wounds the artist's
eye, he can easily amend the defect by withdrawing the
offending piece of enamel and driving in another while the
cement is still wet; and, by observing proper precautions, it
can be kept damp for more than a fortnight. "When the
work is completed any tiny crevices which may remain are
carefully plugged or " stopped " with pounded marble, or
with enamel mixed with wax, and the entire surface of the
picture is then ground down to a perfect plane, and finally
polished with putty and oil. Byzantine may be broadly
distinguished from Roman mosaic by the circumstance of
the surface of the former being left unground and unpol-
ished — save where there is burnished gold — thus leaving
an irregularity of surface productive of great vigor of effect.
A virtuous picture of the Byzantine style can at once be
recognized as a mosaic, even if it be hung at an altitude
of one hundred feet from the ground; but a perfected mo-
saic picture, after the Roman manner, might easily be mis-
taken, even at a very short distance, for a very elaborately
finished and highly varnished painting in oils.

Remarkable Brain Wound.

A young man named Leonard E. Spencer, of North Fen-
ton, Broome County, N. Y., was wounded in the head
October 8, 1881, by the bursting of his gun. His physicians
were able to insert a finger its full length into the wound,
but were unable to find the fragment of the gun which pene-
trated the brain. Partial recover}' took place. He was at
work February 20, when unfavorable symptoms set in and
he died the next day. At the autopsy the cylinder and tube
of the gun were found embedded in the brain, inside the
membranes and on the floor of the middle fossa, near the
fore part of the skull. The cylinder and tube were con-
nected in one piece and weighed about three-quarters of an
ounce. The patient had survived the injury four and a half
months.

a m >

Export Edition oi" Scientific American.

If any of our friends have back numbers of the Expobt
Edition to spare, we should be glad to obtain them to com-
plete our files.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

1 62

gtuuiiiu Amtxitm.

[March 18, 1882.

The Science of Teaching and the Teaching of Science.

The annual general meeting of the Teachers' Training and
Registration Society and of the Bishopsgate Training College
was lately held in the theater of the Society of Arts, Lord
Aberdare presiding.

Professor Goldwin Smith, in moving the election of the
council, said that the void in their system was in secondary
education, and to that point the efforts of the friends of edu
cation should be specially directed. In America at the pres-
ent time they were afraid that superficial education made
some persons restless, and induced them to leave the small
towns and flock into the cities. That objection, however,
applied to the lower strata of society rather than to that with
which the association dealt. What was, however, to be
guarded against was the mere show of education — the at-
tempt to teach what teachers did not know. After all, it
was not in the culture but in the character of the individual
that the usefulness of their lives appeared.-

Professor Huxley, who seconded the resolution, said that
more than twenty years ago he was appointed one of the ex-
aminers in the Science and Art Department, as now, and one
of the first things his colleagues and himself discovered was
that their great difficulty was with the teachers. In respect
of the teaching of science, he had constantly brought before
him the wide gulf fixed between the two different kinds of
what persons called knowledge. The one was a mere learn-
ing to repeat a verbal proposition, and the other was know-
ing the subject at first hand — a knowledge based upon a
knowledge of the facts. That which they had constantly to
contend against in the teaching of science in this country
was that teachers had no conception of that distinction; for
they thought it quite sufficient to be able to repeat a number
of scientific propositions and to get their pupils to repeat
them as accurately as they themselves did. If he might offer
one suggestion to the governing body of the college it. was
that so far as they taught science at all they should aim at
giving real and practical scientific instruction ; that it should
be confined to those things about which there was no dis-
pute; and that the teacher should be instructed that, his
business in teaching was to convey clear and vivid impres-
sions of the body of facts upon which the conclusions drawn
from those facts were based. The resolution was adopted
unanimously, as were two others.

a dozen generals and colonels among them, as many pro-
minent physicians, and along list of distinguished lawyers
and businessmen.

Another Ballooning Failure.

An attempt was made March 4, by Colonel Brine, of the
British Royal Engineers, and an aeronaut by the name of
Simmons, to cross the English ChaDnel in a balloon.

Before they were halfway over the wind shifted and was
driving them toward the North Sea, when they dropped
into the sea and were picked up. They say that their descent
was intentional.

NEW SIDE-SADDLE GIRTH.

The engraving shows an improved side-saddle girth which
can be tightened by the rider without leaving the saddle.
The girth is composed of two
sections, united at two adjoining
ends by straps and buckles, the
other ends overlapping each
other, one end sliding upon the
other, both being provided with
pulleys over which a rope or
strap passes which is fastened
to the end of the sliding faani
and terminates in a ring which
is hooked on one of a series of
hooks on the fixed band above
the upper pulley.

When the girth is in use the
ring at the end of the rope is
hooked on the lowest hook and
the girth is passed around the
horse, and is fastened by means
of the straps and buckles in the
usual way. If the girth becomes
loosened — as it generally does a
short time after it has been fast-
ened — the rider seizes the ring
with the right hand, unhooks
it, and by pulling on it brings
the two pulleys, F and G, to-
gether (Fig. 2); by this means the girth is shortened and con-
sequently tightened. The ring is then hooked on one of the
hooks, L, and should the girth again become loosened it may
be tightened in the same way.

This invention was recently patented by Mr. William
McNaught, of Cartersville, Ga.

PROPOSED ELECTRIC LIGHT TOWER AT NEW ORLEANS.

[Continued from first page.]
build his home at the top. With the boldness of the genuine
inventor, Mr, Wm. Golding, M.E., not only essays to ac-

method of lengthening the guys is simple and practically
automatic, and no trouble is anticipated in keeping Hie rising
tower steady and exactly vertical.

Each section of the tower will be borod out before it is put
in place, and have a diameter sufficient to allow the easy
passage of a circular platform carrying the lamp trimmer,
who will be lifted to the top of the tower by means of a pis-
ton operated by compressed air supplied by pumps or a rotary
blower. The inventor thinks that the pressure need never
exceed half a pound to the square inch. The cost of a five
hundred foot tower complete (without the lamps) raised in
the way described is estimated at about $30,000.

Mr. Golding proposes for the levee at New Orleans a five
hundred foot tower, to carry an electric light of 40,000 can-
dle power. He would have it placed at the intersection of
Canal street, as shown in our large engraving. Such a light
so placed, it is evident, would abundantly illuminate the
levee, the harbor, and the opposite shore.

The smaller engraving shows the method and machinery
requisite for raising the tower and for lifting the lamp trim-
mer to the top.

Mr. Golding suggests that the tower might be used as a
look-out station for the fire department, and be further used
as a telegraphic center, wires being run from the tower to
the different offices about tbe city and across the river to
Algiers without other support, the over-river wire being
high enough above the water to be entirely clear of ships'
masts.

The erection of lofty light towers such as Mr. Golding pro-
poses would not only be clearly advantageous to the com-
merce of New Orleans, hut would make that port conspicu-
ous for its convenience to shipping as well as for its
nocturnal splendor.

VERTICAL PLAN OP GOLDING'S ELECTRIC LIGHT TOWER.
-SECTION SHOWING LIFT FOR LIGHT TRIMMER.

complish this proverbially impossible task, but actually
shows how it may be done in a way that certainly presents
no obvious features of impracticability.

Mr. Golding dispenses, with stagings and the usual ma-
chinery of tower building, and raises his tower into'theair
by additions made lit the bottom. The tower is a cast iron
cylinder built up of short sections, five hundred feet high, if
need be, and kept vertical while in process of erection and
afterward by means of guys. The top sections, to which the
lamps are to be permanently attached, are put together first,

MISCELLANEOUS INVENTIONS.

Messrs. Thomas N<:ely and Alfred Marland, of Pittsburg,
Pa., have patented a simple and effective guard for fence
wires so constructed as to prevent the skin and flesh of cat-
tle from being torn as they are liable to be when barbed
guards are used. The invention consists in combining with
one or more wires metal disks having smooth, sharp edges,
by which a clean cut is made in the skin of cattle coming in
contact therewith.

Mr. Richard Mills, of Buffalo, 111., has patented an im-
provement in gang plows, in which the plowsare constructed
with forwardly-projecting prongs upon their shears and
guards upon their mould boards, by which the furrow slices
will be raised and kept upon the mould boards till they reach
the proper point to be turned.

m i » i >

Some Representative Americans.
The theory that the human race will not be able to main-
tain a high order of physical development on this continent
did not receive much encouragement at a re-
cent social gathering in this city. The Titans,
a society to which only gentlemen of position
and of a stature not below six feet two
inches are eligible, now numbers about a hun-
dred members, largely representative of our
oldest and best known American families.
Seventy-three Titans sat down together at the
recent annual dinner of the society. The tall-
est measured six feet six inches. There were

McNATJGHT'S SIDE-SADDLE GIRTH.

and, by means of an ordinary derrick, are set vertically over
a hydraulic press placed upon the intended foundation of
the tower. The hydraulic lift raises the top sections until a
new section, say five feet long, can be set underneath. While
the lift is returning to admit a new section the raised tower
is held in position hy a clamp and kept vertical by means of
the guys which are simultaneously fed off by a wormwheel
gear as the tower is pushed up. When the new section has
been securely bolted on, the whole is lifted another length;
and thus by successive lifts and additions at the bottom the
tower is raised until the required altitude is attained. The

lip . 2

McNAITGHT'S SIDE-SADDLE GIRTH.

Explosion of a Locomotive.
A singular explosion was that of locomotive No. 419,
used on the Peoria branch of the Wabash, St. Louis and
Pacific Railway, which exploded in the round-house at La-
fayette, Ind., at 7 A.M. of the morning of February 20.
Neither the engineer nor fireman had arrived, and as one of
the men in charge of the build-
ing was in the act of turning the
table in front of the engine, with-
out any kind of warning the
boiler burst, carrying destrucl ion
and injury in every direction,
but happily without loss of life.
The roof of the building, which
was 154 feet in diameter and of
sixteen stalls, was cone shaped,
supported by brick walls and cov
ered with tin. The explosion
forced the walls outward, and
the roof i 11 down, a complete
wreck. Only fragments of the
walls are standing. A corre-
spondent of the Chicago Tribune
says: One singular feature about
the explosion is the fact that
it made comparatively small
noise, the concussion beinsrmore
in the nature of a heavy thud,
causing the earth to jar for a
moment. The pieces of the
wreck were not blown over all
creation, as is usually the case,
but the force of the explosion seemed to have spent itself
in the demolition of the wall. There were a number of nar-
row escapes, but outside of the men who were in the build-
ing no serious accident occurred. One of the locomotives
was about half way out from beneath the arch when the
explosion occurred. The fireman was thrown from th h e cabin
to the tank, but aside from an injury to the hand like that
produced by a falling brick, he wasnot hurt, though stunned.
The engine was considerably damaged, the smokestack
knocked off, rods bent, and other like injuries. There
were thirteen locomotives in the building at the time of the
explosion. All of them are damaged, but
probably not to any great extent. Headlights
are broken, smokestacks demolished, and
rods and bars bent and broken, but as soon as
they are gotten out they can be very speed-
ily repaired. The men in charge are unable to
account for the accident, save from some de-
fect in the boiler. There is said to have been
an abundance of water therein. Five men
were injured — one only seriously.

:W\V-

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

March 18, 1882.]

§f tltutitit %mmau.

163

NEW SAFETY CAR COUPLING.

The eDgraving shows an improved car coupler in which
a light handle, attached to the link, reaches up far enough
to permit of holding it up by the hand with perfect safety
while coupling. A narrow shallow groove is formed in the
face of the drawheads, in which the handle sets when the
drawheads bump together; this prevents injury to the han-
dle. To couple the cars the free end of the link is held up
by the handle and guided into the mouth of the drawhead,
the pin is then dropped as usual. There is no danger, as the
hand does not go between any colliding parts. "When more
convenient to couple from below, the handle may be turned
downward, and the link held up by one band below the
drawheads, while the pin is dropped by the other hand
above. It is not necessary to go between thecars, as a short
rod may be passed through the ring on the handle to hold
the link up.

FRITTS' SAFETY CAK COUPLING.

The ordinary form of link is used, with a bar across the
middle and a handle welded to the bar. Tlie handle may be
made of a small iron rod one-quarter by one-half inch. The
groove in the drawbar face is about one quarter inch deep
and one inch broail. This groove can be formed when mak-
ing the drawbar, or ground in Ihe face of one already made,
by means of an emery wheel. It is not absolutely necessary
to take the drawbar off the car to alter it, as a portable
emery wheel can be employed for the work.

An ordinary couplingchanged to this form is in no respect
unfitted for coupling with cars fitted with other couplings,
as it will couple into any other form or device that it could
couple with before being altered over. If the handle gets
worn or accidentally broken off, the coupling is still asgood
as the ordinary link.

This coupling, when put into use, will undoubtedly pre-
vent a very large proportion of accidents in coupling.

Further information may be obtained by addressing Mr.
Charles E. Fritts, at 42 Nassau street, New York city.

IMPROVED NUT LOCK.

The engraving shows an improved nut lock consisting of
a plate of iron of the desired length, breadth, and thickness,
having recesses formed in its face capable of receiving the
nuts of the bolts in connection with which the plate is to
beused. At the'bottom of these recesses there are slotsthrough
the plates, which allow the bolts to pass through. These
slots extend beyond the open ends of the recesses far enough
to permit of readily turning the nut. The end of the plate
has a head to admit of driving it one way and the other.
These recessed plates, when used as fish plates, are placed on
one side of the abutting rails, and a plate
having square bolt holes is placrd on the oppo-
site side. The bolts have square shanks, and
pa3s through both plates and the rails.

After the nuts are screwed up the recessed
plate is driven along lengthwise of the rail
until the nuts are in the recesses. Tlie nuts
will then be locked and cannot be turned until
the plate is driven back.

This style of nut lock can be applied with
great advantage to cars, wagons, machinery,
iron buildings, and, in fact, in many places
where bolts are employed, but it finds its prin-
cipal application to railroad rails.

Further information may be obtained by
addressing Mr. W. D. Simpson, Anderson,
S. C.

■»■ * •»

RECENT INVENTIONS.

A novel clothes drier has been patented by
Mr. John R. Buckwaiter, of Buyerstown,
Pa. The object of this invention is to pro-
vide a cheap and simple drier, especially
adapted for application to ordinary stove-
pipes, for drying articles of clothing. It con-
sists of two semicircular bands having arms
and at right angles thereto, supported ty flanges having
sockets for receiving the arms..

Messrs. James Casey, Sheldon Juniper, and John H.
Mitchell, of Savannah, Choctaw Nation. Indian Territory,
have patented a dumping car provided with an end gate car-
ried by a bail pivoted to the sides of the car, the end gate
being provided with a recess in its upper end for receiving a
hook suspended from a frame above a tilting platform, upon
which the car is run, so that when the car is tilted this hook

will hold and raise the gate, permitting the contents of the
car to slide down the inclined floor.

An improved chimney cap and ventilator has been patented
by Mr. William D. Bartlett, of Amesbury, Mass. This in-
vention is an improvement on the chimney cap shown in
letters patent granted to the same inventor September 21,
1880, No. 232,434. The invention consists in wing strips
combined with a suspended hood for the purpose of divert-
ing or breaking up the gusts of wind and preventing back
eddies.

A dumping car of simplified construction, and one which
can be operated with greater ease than those in common use,
has been patented by Mr. Aaron Park, of Ottumwa, Iowa.
This invention consists in providing the frame of the car
truck with a longitudinal central shaft, and also at or near"
its ends with vertical plates, the upper edges of which are
made heart-shaped to form tracks upon which the car box
moves when dumping the load in either direction,
the car box being connected with the frame of the
truck by a rod passing through curved slots in
the vertical plates and operated by levers.

A. novel cattle tongs for catching and holding
wild cattle in slaughter-houses and other places has
been patented by Mr. Christopher Briihl, of Green-
point, N. Y. The invention consists in cattle tongs
having its jaws hinged to the handles. The han-
dles have a hinged serrated lockingarm and a lock-
ing pin for holding the jaws closed.

A refrigerator that will secure as much as possi-
ble the direct effect of the ice and prevent the cur-
rents of warm and cold air coming in contact and
mingling with each other, and one which will be
perfectly ventilated, has been patented by Mr. John
Alexander, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This in-
vention consists of an open ice rack at the top of
ihe refrigerator, separated from the provision cham-
ber by a water-shed and trough, which permit the
free downward passage of cold air into tlie provision cham
ber, and at the same time catch and conduct off all drip from
the ice, the sides of the ice box being slotted adjacent to ver-
tical partitions in such manner a3 to form side passages for
the downward currents of cold air, the lower edges of the
boards being provided with deflectors for turning the down-
ward currents toward the center of the provision chamber,
and for guiding the upward currents to passages or flues
formed by the partitions and the walls of the refrigerator,
from whence Ihe air returns to the ice rack or box, to be
again cooled and to descend again to the provision chamber.
An improvement in the manufacture of key-board cover-
ings for musical instruments has been patented by Mr. George
B. French, of Ivoryton, Conn. The invention consists in
so punching or cutting the spaces for the short keys in a
sheet of covering material — as, for instance, celluloid — be-
fore the same is glued to its baseboard that the punched or
cut-out pieces may be utilized by being glued to the narrow
portions of the long keys of a second base.

A novel barrel cleaner has been patented by Mr. Charles
Vonderlinden, of Rhinebeck, N. Y. The invention consists
in a series of metallic balls or blocks provided with project-
ing brushes, the balls being connected by pieces of chain, so
that they can be passed into a barrel through the bung-hole,
and can be moved about in the barrel to scour it, water hav
ing been previously poured into the barrel.

A method of and apparatus for disinfecting dead bodies
has been patented by Mr. John D. Nietscke, of Somerset,
O. This invention consists of a series of airtight boxes or
receptacles provided with tubes having cocks connected to
a retort and to each other by pipes. The vapors or fumes

is provided with hooks for the attachment of the curtain by
means of rings at its upper end.

Mr. Lewis Merrifleld, of La Grange, Ind., has patented an
improved cowl, consisting of a semi-cylindrical hood open
at the ends and adapted to be swiveled upon the chimney or
pipe, and held to the wind by means of a vane. The wind-
ward side of the hood is formed at the ends with beveled or
inwardly crimped deflectors, which cause the wind, as it
sweeps past the cowl, to act as an exhaust in the flue.

< in »

POCKET HANGER FOR HATS AND GARMENTS.

The engraving shows a very convenient and useful pocket
book for hanging overcoats, hats, and other garments against
the wall or on the backs of opera chairs, church pews, and
for use in various other places.

The invention consists of an ornamental handle similar to
the handle of a pocket knife, having pivoted in its opposite
ends hooks which are capable of folding up into the handle
as shown in Fig. 1. One hook is made of the best steel and
tempered, and has a very sharp point which may be inserted
in the wall or into any otherappropriateandconvenient sur-

MCDONALD'S POCKET HANGER FOR HATS AND
GARMENTS.

face. In case the hanger is intended to be used mainly upon
opera chairs or church seats or in some similar way, neither
of the hooks need be sharpened.

This device can be shut up into very small compass so
that it may be carried in the vest pocket. It is hardly ne-
cessary to say anything in regard to the usefulness of this
device, as it seems to be one of those articles that every one
has use for.

The invention was lately patented by Mr. Thomas
McDonald, of Austin, Texas.

SIMPSON'S IMPROVED NUT LOCK.

are forced from one box or receptacle to another by means
of a bellows, the vapor or fumes being used over and over
again.

A novel curtain cornice has been patented by Mr. George
Baldwin, of Buckland.Conn. This is a cornice to be ap-
plied to the top of the window frame for holding and con-
cealing the top edge of the curtain. The center piece of the
cornice is provided on its back with two bars, which extend
the entire length and serve to strengthen it. One of the bars

The Sense of Touch,

Professor McKendrick, in a recent lecture before the
Royal Institution, said that probably touch was the most
primitive of all the senses; and then described its anatomi-
cal arrangements in man. These consist of the end bulbs
of Krause, the touch corpuscles of Wagner, and the bodies
first described by Vater, and usually called Pacinian, after
Pacini, their closest examiner. All these mi-
nute corpuscles contain a gelatinous-like mat-
ter, in which the ends of the nerves are em-
bedded. Tactile sensations are excited by me-
chanical contact, pressure, or traction. The
mode of excitation varies according as the
body is solid, liquid, or gaseous, and sensi-
bility increases with the amount of pressure,
till it becomes pain. Inequality of pressure
is one of the conditions of tactile sensation;
hence the use of papillae to increase the points
of contact, and therefore the delicacy of
touch.

After illustrating this by the vibra-
tions of tuning forks, and alluding to the
sensation caused by contact with fluids and
gases, the Professor suggested the probable
mode of action of the terminal organs. Mere
contact may give rise to sensations differing
in quality; such as the touch of metal, wood,
and fat. Weber's method of testing the deli-
cacy of touch was described as observing
compound tactile sensations. Tactile sensi-
bility increases from the proximal toward
the distant end of the limb — as, for example,
from the shoulder to the fingers. More
than four or five points of contact cannot be ob-
served at the same moment. It was shown by experiment
that one continuous impression maybe produced by about
six hundred tactile impressions in a second. The sensa-
tion of touch does not correspond exactly to the duration of
the excitant; and sometimes is referred to the surf ace of a
body beyond it, as when we touch teeth. The Professor
explained how there may be a tactile field corresponding to
visual field.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

164

Sftitntifit %mmtnu.

[March 18, 1882.

THE LURA'Z CAVEKNS BY ELECTRIC LIGHT.

BT H. C. HOVEY.

The facilities now furnished by the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad have drawn twelve thousand visitors to the Caverns
of Luray since last June. The majority of these have had
to grope their way by candles, with occasional flashes of
red lights or magnesium tape; and, on special days, the
galleries have been illuminated by fixed chandeliers, ten
thousand candles having been thus consumed on a single
occasion. The unavoidable result has been the dropping of
a great amount of melted tallow among the crystals and into
the springs and pools, the smoking of some of the more
delicate stalactites, and the change of those bright colors
that attracted the admiring gaze of visitors who saw, as the
writer did, t lie cave in its unsullied purity, just after its dis-
covery, in 1878, by Messrs. Campbell and Stebbins. It may
be added, in self defense, that some of the beautiful objects,
described by me in articles then written for the Scientific
American, have been thus transformed beyond recognition
— a remark especially true of the alabaster grotto known as
"The Bridal Chamber," and the scale-covered column called
"The Mermaid."

There are, however, attractions enough remaining to jus-
tify the boast of the proprietors that they have the most
beautiful cave ever found; and new rooms are being fre-
quently opened, so that the local residents in the vicinity
imagine that these are discovered to order,
whenever the curiosity of the public begins
to flag. Whatever may be. true as to this, it
is well that the law is most stringently en-
forced against mutilating the formations or
taking specimens; because, famous as the
cave has become, its proportions are limited,
and it might quickly be spoiled of charms
that centuries were required to produce.

In order to the better preservation of the
cave, and also that its wonders might be seen
to the best advantage, the company have
lately had electric lights introduced with ad-
mirable success; and as this is the first attempt
of the kind, the particulars may be of general
interest.

When I say tbat thirteen electric lights are
kept burning in Luray Cave, the statement
may not seem extraordinary, now that lights
of this description are common in every city.
But a moment's reflection will show that it
is quite different to run wires along poles or
over house-tops, and to run them under-
ground, under perilous masses of dripstone,
through nearly inaccessible galleries and
across profound chasms. The hard carbon-
ates into which holes had to be bored for the
insulators proved to be so very hard as re"
peatedly to snap the drills. There were also
unusual magnetic disturbances, and the diffi-
culties of perfect insulation were such that
some of the workmen received severe shocks
while testing the wires.

The engine is more than a mile from the
cave, being the same that is used to supply
water for the Luray Inn, and for the tank at
the railroad station. The power required for
each light is three-fourths of one horse power,
and the expense of putting in the works,
aside from the engine, was about $3,500. The
length of the single wire used is three and a
half miles, which, with the return current
through the earth, makes an entire circuit of
seven miles, and is supposed to be the longest
current yet attempted with oneengine. Auto-
matic regulation is of importance in managing so extended
a circuit; and this was secured by using the Thomson and
Houston system, the special advantage of which, in this
case, as explained to me by the electrician, Mr. T. H. Mc-
Collin, is that it allows any number of lumps to be turned
on or switched off, without any change in the running of
the engine. The current regulator is actually an electric
governor. By rocking the brushes on the commutator the
current is increased or decreased automatically. Otherwise,
when some of the lights were extinguished, the same amount
of electricity would continue to be generated as if all were
burning, unless specially checked by hand; and conse-
quently the machinery would become heated unless slowed
down or else a proper means of wastage provided. But here
the excess above the quantity of electricity generated for
actual use is provided for, without diminishing the number
of revolutions of the generator or the speed of the engine
itself. The decrease of resistance, however, in case lights
are extinguished, is immediately fell, by the engine, and
results in less consnmption of fuel and steam.

The lamps, with a single exception, are used without
shades, there being little draught except near the entrance,
and the shades only serving to intercept the rays. From
2,000 to 2,500 nominal candle power is claimed for each
lamp, which ought to give for each about 1,000 for available
use in illumination. But I observed that the amount of
light actually obtained was much less than what would be
expected in the ordinary atmosphere. I found the expla-
nation of this in the fact that the cave atmosphere, being
optically pure, does not carry the rays as effectually as would
be done by air in which motes were floating. This theory
was verified by me last summer, in other caverns, by burn-

ing blue lights and magnesium tape. Returning to the same
localities about an hour later, the increased light from our
torches was very perceptible, and was accounted for by the
fact that particles had thus been set afloat in the air that
served as vehicles for spreading the rays.

The lamps in Luray Cave are in a measure movable, that
is, they may upon occasion be swung from one point to
another. But as they are at present placed they throw light
on poinis of most interest to the visitor. The first is in the
Vestibule, and finely lights up Washington's Pillar and the
entrances to Stebbins' and Specimen Avenues. The next is
in the Fish Market, making the long strings of bass and
mackerel glisten as if they were real fish instead of stone.

Two lamps cast their beams into Pluto's Chasm, a pit said
to be 500 feet long and 70 feet deep. Another is amid the
alabaster scarfs and brilliant stalactites that embellish
Hovey's Hall. Others light up to advantage Oberon's Grotto
and the diversified and curiously beautiful bronze, pink,
blue, and white formations in the Cathedral, the Giant's
Hall, and the Ball Room. The most remote points reached
by the lights are Collins' Grotto and Campbell's Hall. The
last object of interest usually exhibited, and which the visit-
or carries away as something to be cherished in memory as
long as memory shall endure, is the Imperial Spring and
Brand's Cascade. The " Spring " is not properly a spring,
but a limpid pool, overarched by a grotto 25 feet across, and

1. The Vestibule. — 2. Washington's Pillar.— 3. The Flower Garden.— 4. The Amphitheater.— 5. natural
Bridge over Muddy Lake. 6. The Fish Market. — 7. The Crystal Spring. — 8. Proserpine's Pillar.
9. The Spectral Column. — 10. Hovey's Balcony and Scarfs. — 11. Oberon's Grotto. 12. Titania's Vail.
13. Saracen's Tent, and Fallen Column. — 14. The Organ and- Throne.— 15. The Tower of Babel.—
1(?. The Empress Columu.— 17. The Hollow Column. — 18. Henry Baird (or Double) Column.— 19.
Chalcedony Cascade.— 20. The Coral Spring.— 21. The Dragon of Luray.— 22. Bootjack Alley.— 23. The
Mermaid, or Scaly Column.— 24. The Lost Blanket. — 25. Helen's !>carf.— 26. Chapman's Lake. — 27.
Broaddus Lake.— 28. The Castles on the Rhine.— 29. The Imperial Spring.— 30. The Skeleton.— 31. The
Twin Lakes. — 32. The Engine Room. — 33. Miller's Room.— 34. Hawes' Cabinet. — 35. Specimen Avenue.—
36. Proposed Exit Avenue.

MAP OF LTJBAY CAVERN.

so thickly studded with bronze stalactites from three inches
to three feet in length, that after several trials at counting
thenumberon a square foot, we estimated the entire number
in the vault to be about fifty thousand, each tip gleaming
with a crystal drop. The light is so placed as to cause all
these sparkling pendants to be reflected from the face of the
pool.

Brand's Cascade, it should also be understood, is not a
real one of water, but a mass of alabaster, seeming to gush
from the side of the Imperial Spring, and to have been
frozen in the act of falling down into the ravine below.
Imagine a cataract of milk suddenly caught in mid air and
polished to a wax- like luster, and beyond it another as yel
low and golden as amber, and the whole mass flooded by
electric light, and you will see that the scene could not be
painted by pencil or pen.

During my last visit to Luray, a few days ago, a photo-
grapher from Philadelphia, Mr. C. H. James, was trying to
fix on paper some of these indescribable visions. The ex-
perience of those who have hitherto attempted underground
photography has not been very encouraging, but this gen-
tleman has overcome many of the difficulties in the way,
and hopes to get good pictures. Those he has already
secured certainly surpass any taken by calcium or magne-
sium light, both in sharpness of outline ^and distinctness of
detail.

Wisely the guides show to visitors only those parts of the
cave that have been made easily accessible by concrete pave-
ments, plank walks, bridges, and stairways. Places that can
only be reached by creeping and wading are not open to any
but explorers who cannot rest until they have seen all that
can be seen. Work is constantly in progress to facilitate

the examination of the entire cavern without one's being
obliged to retrace his steps, but emerging from his under
ground journey at an exit to be made about five hundred
feet south of the entrance.

The pick and crowbar are the main reliance for enlarging
narrow passages, but an occasional charge of dynamite has
been fired in places where other galleries were not endan
gered by the explosion. Among the huge blocks thus dis
lodged I noticed some that were remarka.ble for size and
also for fineness of texture. Experimenting on a few frag
ments gi ven me for the purpose, I fi nd that, on being cut into
slabs and polished, they are quite equal to the celebrated Mexi-
can onyx,from which they differ mainly in vividness of color.
A correct map of Luray Cave has long been wanted by
persons interested in subterranean regions. A sketch was
prepared by Mr. A. Y. Lee, for the Herald, in 1878; and
another, embodying certain improvements, was made in
1880, by Mr. S. Z. Ammen. Itis no disparagement to these
gentlemen to say that their maps were imperfect, for they
could hardly have been otherwise under the circumstances.

Since the electric lights have been put in a new survey has
been made with the greatest care, resulting in the accurate
map that accompanies this communication. It is published
rjy the consent and approval of the company, and can be de-
pended on as to its details. It was found impossible to indi
cate every object of interest; but a list of the more important
ones serves to explain the map. Nearly all
the points indicated are now exhibited to visi-
tors; and others will be opened to the public
during the next season.

Should the reader desire more full particu-
lars concerning this wonderful series of cav-
erns, he will find them in the files of the Sci-
entific American for 1879, in the reports of
the Smithsonian Institution, and in various
magazines.

»-#-•

The Expanding Power of Ice.
In a recent number of Naturen, Hr. Bergh
has drawn attention to the powerful agency
exerted by ice in severing rocks, of which he
gives a striking instance occurring on the
Aalesund in West Norway, where a low ledge
rising out of the fjord is all that remains of
a once extensive fjeeld promontory, which,
in the year 1717, was suddenly blown up and
precipitated into the water by the force of
the ice within the interstices of the stone.
The winter had been mild, and during a rapid
thaw a considerable stream had welled up
from the ice covered summit of the f jaeld, and
carried its waters into every crevice of the
rock, when a sudden change of wind brought
about a sharp frost, which turned the de-
scending waters of the newly formed stream
into ice, arresting their course within the in-
terstices of the rock. The result was the ex-
plosion of the entire mass of the f jald below
the outbreak of the stream, and its projection
from a height of more than 1,500 feet into
the neighboring fjord, which ingulfed the
whole of the promontory, with its cultivated
fields and farmstead. Simultaneously with
the disappearance of the land below the sur-
face of the fjord, a huge mass of waters was
propelled against the opposite shore, carrying
'with it rusty anchors, boat rafters, and
numerous other objects which had long lain
at the bottom. The disturbance extended a
mile beyond the point at which the land was
submerged, and the waters in retreating car
ried with them a wooden church which had stood fifty feet
above the fjord, besides sweeping away all the fishing boats
for a distance of two and a half miles. Before this occur-
rence, which was attended by loss of life to about a score of
persons, the headland had been much resorted to on account
of the halibut which abounded in the neighborhood, but
since that period the fish has never returned, a circum-
stance which, according to local popular belief, is due to
the covering up by the infallen rock of certain submarine
cavities and springs frequented by the fish.

MISCELLANEOUS INVENTIONS.

An improved dentist's broach has recently been patented
by Mr. Olof Johanson, of New York city. The object of
this invention is to improve the construction of the ordi-
nary dental broach for cleaning hollow teeth and extracting
nerves by rendering it equally flexible in all directions, so
as to regch every part of a hollow tooth, and making it
stronger, so that when revolved it shall be less iiable to
break than the ordinary broach.

Mr. Charles Royle, of New York city, has patented an
improvement in that class of lamps in which the oil cham-
ber is surrounded by, supported upon, and connected with
the pedestal by a body made of ornamented porcelain. The
invention consists of the body made of cement moulded into
shape and covered with a shell of ornamented sheet metal
or paper.

An improvement in desks has been patented by Mr.
Joseph H. Burrows, of Boise City, Idaho. The invention
consists in combining with a main section and writing
board two hinged bars pivoted to the lower ends of two
slide rods and a block.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

March 18, 1882.]

$f tuntitu %mtxmn>

165

An improved method of embroidering and apparatus
therefor has been patented by Mr. Joseph Halter, of Reb-
stein, Switzerland. The object of this invention is to make
different kinds of lace, guipures, and other varieties of ma-
chine embroider}' that can be made on ordinary embroidery
machines with cotton, flax, wool, silk, or other thread upon
a ground of paper or other material that can be easily
washed away or removed when the lace or other open work
is completed ; also to provide apparatus to support the paper
when it would by itself be torn by the embroidery needles
and thread; and to connect the embroidery figures by strong
thread passed through each figure, so that they are sus-
pended to each other; and to wash away or remove the
paper or other easily destructible ground on which the em-
broidery has been made.

A new apparatus for facilitating adding numbers, and to
enable persons not acquainted with the addition table to
add numbers, has been patented by Messrs. David M Ful-
wiler and James A. Fulwiler, of Lexington, 111. The inven-
tion consisis in a board divided into longitudinal columns,
each provided with an index letter and containing rows of
numbers, the board sliding in a frame attached to a base,
and provided with a transverse rule or strip above the
board, and having subdivisions corresponding with and in-
dexed the same as the columns on the board, with which
they coincide, this frame being also provided with a longi-
tudinal casing at one end, containing a slide with numerals
on the upper surface, showing through a slot in this casing,
and with ratchet teeth on the lower side, in which teeth a
spring pawl in the sliding board catches.

An improved basket for gathering or holding cotton has
bean patented by Mr. George W. Starr, of Vicksburg, Miss.
This basket can be folded very compactly, so as to occupy
very little space while being transported or stored. It is
formed of an upper metal ring with loops, in which rods
are pivoted, having their lower ends bent over, so that Ihey
will catch under the bottom, which is attached to the sides,
made Of Canvas.

An improved device for holding drawers in such a man-
ner that they will not be inconvenient to the wearer, and
can be fastened or unfastened easily and quickly, has been
patented by Mr. "William W. Beach, of New York city,
assignor to himself and Charles V. Goddard, of same place.

An improved wagon has been patented by Mr. Silas Van
Patten, of Duanesburg, N. Y. This wagon is constructed
in such a manner that it can be loaded and unloaded by the
action of the team while attached to the wagon.

FAILURE OF MATS AS A PROTECTION TO THE EIVEE
FRONT OF NEW ORLEANS.-SOMETHINt NEW WANTED.

The board of engineer officers appointed last fall to ex-
amine the work in progress for the protection of the river
front of New Orleans have reported against the continuance
of the present plan of operation. This work, it will be re-
membered, has been going on for several years to stop the
more or less rapid erosion of the riverfront of the city, by
carpeting the slope of the river bed with mats of brush and
cane.

The course of the Mississippi at New Orleans is such as to
throw its powerful current directly against certain portions
of its bank. Issuing from the straight reach above Nine
Mile Point, it makes a sharp bend to the right at Carrollton,
then gradually curves to the left to the foot of Canal street,
and then makes another sharp bend to the right, after which
it follows a nearly straight line until beyond the city limits.
The width at Carrollton is about 2,250 feet, and the channel
depth about 140 feet, and these dimensions remain nearly
uniform to ahout the middle of the gentle leftward curva-
ture, when the width is gradually reduced and the depth in-
creased. The former finally becomes about 1,900 feet and
the latter reaches a maximum of over 200 feet, and it is in
this shape that the river enters the sharp bend below Canal
street, called in New Orleans the third district. The entire
Mississippi River, concentrated to a degree nowhere else to
be found along its course, and possessing therefore its maxi-
mum power of excavation, is here turned about an angle of
90° upon a radius of about 3,000 feet. The concave bank —
meaning by that term the entire slope from the top to the bot-
tom of the river — which can resist such a force for even a
brief period must possess great stability. Rapid excavations
and deep incursions are to be expected.

It was ascertained by the Board of Engineers convened
by the Mayor of New Orleans, in 1877, that the bank at
Carrollton Bend had receded about 500 feet in twenty years.
While this has resulted in the loss of considerable valuable
property and should be checked, the localit}' is of altogether
secondary importance when compared with the third district.
At the latterplacevast commercial interests are concentrated;
the bank is crowded with wharves, and every inch of the ad-
joining ground has a value. Here the bank is practicall}'
where it has been for a century and a half, or rather there
has been no recession. At the extreme upper end of the
bend, in the immediate vicinity of Canal street, there have
been large accretions, several blocks of the city having been
added and built upon outside of what was formerly the shore
line. This is due to the natural movement of the bend down
stream. In the bend itself considerable batture formations
have occurred at intervals and then disappeared. This can-
not be accounted for without a knowledge of the various ob-
stacles, such as wharves, wrecks, etc., that may have been
placed in the river at various periods — information not now
attainable.

The explanation of the fact that the main bank as a whole,

maintains its position is found in the multitude of wrecked
wharves and bulkheads which here line the river front.
There is no record of how many wharves and bulkheads
have gone in at any one place, but the number is known to
be large. In some cases a wharf has lasted but a single year.
Divers report that the remains of these structures are to be
found all the way to the bottom of the river.

The piles, beams, and planks, though more or less held
together, are twisted into irregular shapes, making excellent
silt-catching devices. But this is a very expensive protection;
and the repeated destruction of the wharves has rendered
high wharf rates a necessity, so that the entire commerce of
the port is interested in having the evil removed.

The plan proposed in 1878 was to cover the upper section
of the river slope at Carrollton with a layer of brush ballasted
with stone. For the section from Morgan's Wharf to the
foot of Congress street, including the sharp bend below
Canal street, it was proposed to form a bulkhead in line with
the outer row of wharf piles, by driving piles in pairs three
feet apart, the distance between the pairs to be six feet;
these piles to be bolted together at low water and at the
top, and a wall of brush fascines set up between the piles,
up and down stream, to low water mark; the rest of the
space to high water to be planked. From the foot of the
row of piles it was planned to' lay upon the slope mats of
brush ballasted with stone as far out as might be necessary
to cover all defective strata.-

Operations have been carried on during the low water sea-
sons of 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1881, the w'ork for the first
three years being confined to the third district, while the
greater portion of the work done the next year was in Car-
rollton Bend. The following method of construction was
adopted for the former district:

The mat was first made in small sections, 24 feet by 25
feet, the material used being cane. In the finished section
the canes lay in a single layer, side by side, with sufficient
interval between them to allow for the stitching, say one
inch. It was sewed from one end to the other by seven con-
tinuous pairs of wires or pieces of marline, the latter being
used to the exclusion of wire after the first few mats were
placed. The stitch was the shoemaker's stitch; that is, one
marline passing under one cane, passed over the next, under
the third, over the fourth, and so on, while the other marline
of the same pair alternated in the same manner, but passing
on the opposite sides of the canes. The marlines thus crossed
each other at each interval between the canes. In crossing
they were not caught together. They were secured only to
the middle and end canes of the section. The breaking of
a marline at one point destroyed its efficiency throughout its
length. An opening was made in each joint of each cane to
destroy its buoyancy and admit sediment from the river after
sinking. Eight of these small sections were sewed together,
end to end, making a mat 200 feet by 24 feet, and it was in
this shape that the mats were put down during the seasons
of 1878 and 1879. For placing them a row of guide piles 6
feet apart were driven upon the line of the front wharf
piles. These were heavy piles of pine 65 feet long, and
were intended to subsequently form part of the brush wall
described in the plan. An iron ring was slipped over each
pile, fitting loosely, to which the end of the mat, the 24foot
side, was secured by a piece of light rope. The barge upon
which the mat was spread was then moved out into the
stream by a tug boat, the mat was launched and placed upon
the bottom, with its longer side as nearly as possible perpen-
dicular to the shore. The ballast used with the first few
mats was old boiler tubes, and afterward sand bags. Buoys
were attached to each mat before sinking, by means of which
its location upon the bottom could afterward be approxi-
mately ascertained.

Care was taken to sink a new mat at anyplace which
seemed to have been left uncovered, but notwithstanding
this precaution, it is probable that some portions of the
slope within a distance of 200 feet were left uncovered. The
presence of ships at the wharves was a serious inconvenience
to the work, causing frequent interruptions. It could not
be made continuous. The work done in 1878 and 1879was
begun just below Picayune Pier and extended to the foot of
Mandeville street, covering a length of 1,116 feet measured
along the bank. It consisted entirely of matting of the
above description, nothing being done toward the brush wall
except the piling.

In resuming operations in 1880 it was found impossible to
begin at Mandeville street, where the work of 1879 termi-
nated, because of the number of ships moored below, as
many as twenty sometimes lying between Mandeville and
Montegut streets. These the wharf master refused to move.
Work was accordingly begun at Montegut street, leaving a
gap of 2,262 feet between that and the work of 1879. The
general construction of the mats was the same as before, ex-
cept, that they were made larger. Forty sections, each 14
feet by 2i feet, were sewn together, making a mat 200 feet
by 70 feet, instead of 200 feet by 24 feet, as before. Float-
ing ways, having the direction of their slope parallel to the
shore instead of perpendicular to it, as before, were moored
to the guide piles. The mat, being secured to the latter in
the same manner as before, was launched up and down
stream instead of across stream, as before. Ten such mats,
covering a length of 560% feet of bank between Montegut
and Louisa streets, were laid in 1880.

The ballast used was sand bags. Very little work was
done at this place last season.

The wharves in front of which the work of 1878 and 1879
was done fell into the river in 1880, They were rebuilt and

were wrecked again in 1881. The wharves in front of which
the work of 1880 was done were destroyed in 1881.

The decision of the board of engineers is that the plan of
improvement as executed, so far at least as the third district
is concerned, is a failure.

"The impossibility of doing continuous work, and the
flimsy character of the matting put down, would perhaps
account for this. Under any plan a remedy for the first
evil consists in withdrawing the portion of the river front
under improvement from wharf service while the work is
going on, and this requires the co-operation of the city au-
thorities. The cane is not, in the opinion of the board, a
good material for the protection of the banks of the Missis-
sippi. Its straightness and smoothness deprive it, to a large
degree, of the silt-catching quality which is of so great im-
portance in the revetment of the banksof this river. A mat-
tress made of cane receives little if any re enforcement from
the deposits of the river. If this material be used the mat-
tress should be fabricated with great care, all its fastenings
should be made substantial, and if it be found impracticable
by any disposition of the material to procure an artificial
roughness, it should be prepared to resist by its own strength
all the forces which may be brought to bear against it. This
has not been done, and in the opinion of the board the mats,
as constructed, do not form a protection as efficient as the
one contemplated in the plan.

" While the method of construction has been defective, and
the circumstances of carrying on the work have been singu-
larly difficult, it is the opinion of the board that no better
results would have been attained in the third district if both
these causes of failure had been wanting. The problem here
seems to be one of wharf protection rather than of bank pro-
tection, though the latter question appears in the back-
ground.

"The root of the principal evil — the repeated destruction
of the wharves — seems to lie in the construction of the
wharves themselves. The bearing piles, fender piles, and
mooring piles alone obstruct the flow of the water and cause
deposits. When to these are added the remains of old
wharves, old broken and settled piles, and old bulkheads, a
collection of obstacles is found near the top of the bank
which, for efficiency in causing silt deposits, could hardly
be excelled if designed for that purpose. Heavy deposits
are made among them and between the wharves during the
higher stages of the river when it is charged with sediment.
This mass of soft material acquires in time a bulk and weight
which the steep slope below cannot support, even while it
remains submerged. When the river falls the new deposits
are often uncovered, and the tendency to rupture is increased
by the withdrawal of the support furnished by the water.
The difficulty is aggravated by the presence of vessels.

"Vessels lying at the ends of the wharves deflect the cur-
rent downward toward the bottom, and while preventing de-
posits at that place cause a scour upon the material below.
The deeper the draught of the vessel the deeper will this
action extend. A vessel drawing 25 feet will, if left long
enough at one spot in a rapid current, deepen the water by
an amount nearly equal to its draught. Here are all the con-
ditions necessary to explain the various phenomena which
accompany the destruction of the wharves. The slope of
the bank being too steep to bear the great additional weight
at the top of it yields, and may yield in a variety of ways.
The new material may slide out, carrying the upper parts of
the piles with it, and leaving the toes undisturbed ; in this
case the piles will be inclined outward. Or it may settle
down vertically, pushing out a layerof similarmaterialfrom
beneath it. If the latter layer is within the range of the
piles it will carry their toes out, and in this case the piles
will be inclined inward ; if it is beyond the range of the
piles these will simply sink and not be inclined either way.
In the disintegration attending these disruptions a crack may
be formed into which a pile will sink of its own weight, and,
tearing loose from its cap, will settle down with greater
rapidity than the balance of the wharf. A combination of
the two movements above described, or unequal loading of
the wharf, or an eddy about its extremity, or the unequal
stability of different portions of the soil underlying the fresh
deposits, will account for the irregularities which sometimes
appear in the wreck of a single wharf. The yielding of the
bank may occur at any sta.ge of water, though it is most
usual immediately after the fall from a high stage, and is
rare immediately after a prolonged low stage. The increased
draught of the sea-going ships now visiting New Orleans
would cause more rapid wrecking of their wharves than
formerly. While the presence of vessels at the ends of the
wharves aids and hastens their destruction, it is, as before
stated, not essential to it.

" How far down this sloughing of the bank extends is not
now known, and it can be ascertained only by careful and
prolonged observation. It would seem probable that the depth
is not great, not exceeding perhaps a depth of 40 or 50 feet.
But whatever the depth, a preliminary to any efficient pro-
tection must be the removal of the primary cause of the
sloughing, viz. , the overloading of the top of the bank by
silt deposits. The brush wall proposed in the plan under
discussion would have the contrary effect. It would increase
the amount of this overloading and would aggravate the evil

" The board is, therefore, foi:cedtothe conclusion that the
present plan of improvement, whether viewed in outline, as
to its general merits, or in detail, as to its method of exe-
cution, should not be continued."

The board does not offer any substitute for the plan of
operation which it condemns,

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

i66

^tuntiiu %mmtm.

[March 18, 1882.

NEW INVENTIONS.

Mr. "William L. Davis, of South Amboy, N. J., has pa-
tented an improved car coupling constructed with a bumper
head made open at top and bottom, and having a hook con-
nected with the inner parts of its sides by a pin; with this
pin is also connected sliding bars or 1he sides of a link for
turning the connecting pin to raise and lower the hook, and
connected at their outer ends by a pin to adapt them to
serve also as a coupling link.

An improvement in that class of chairs in which the rock-
ers, legs, arms, back, and seat are so arranged with relation
to each other that they may be folded together, when not in
use, so as to occupy less space, and be easily transported,
either singly or in quantities for shipping, has been pa-
tented by Mr. William H. Gifford, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Mr. George S. Moler, of Ithaca, N. Y., has patented an
improvement in call instruments for telegraph lines, the
object of which is to allow calling of any one station on the
line, and at the same time indicate at all stations that the
line is in use. The invention consists in polarized arma-
tures and ratchet mechanism combined with the call bell for
setting the instrument and selecting the bell to be rung.

Mr. Henry Glass, of Golconda, 111., has patented a flux,
consisting of fluorspar, pure carbonate of lime, silex,
alumina, and oxide of iron.

A hair pin which, when inserted in the hair, will so grasp
and hold the lock or mass of hair inclosed within the prongs
that the hair pin will not be liable to drop or work out from
the hair, has been patented by Mary T. Foote, of Boston,
Mass. The ends of the hair pin are first bent out and then
in toward each other, so as to form at the point a clasp
which seizes and holds a lock of hair, and the exterior
shoulders of which bent portion also prevent the pin from
slipping out.

A novel hay and straw burner ha,s been patented by
Messrs. Martin B. Parker and Richard W. Richards, of
Blue Earth City, Minn. In this device the fuel can be com-
pressed while being burned, and a draught space kept open
all around the said fuel.

Mr. Otto Mossberger, of Guttenburg, N. J., has patented
a spittoon provided with swinging covers to obstruct from
view the contents. The invention consists in blocks sliding
vertically in guides on the spittoon, and having foot levers
connected by cords with arms of the pivoted covers, so that
the covers can be raised or swung open by pressing one of
the foot levers.

— . « 1 1 1 »

NEW STOCK-ALARM FOB LOCOMOTIVES.

In some portions of the country one of the difficulties of
railroading is the occupation of the track by cattle, and it
is often with no little difficulty that the animals can be
frightened away by the means ordinarily available; theresult
is the loss of cattle and often the loss of human life, and the
destruction of railroad property.

The engraving represents a very simple and efficient
device calculated to frighten cattle by both visible and audi-
ble signals. The device consists of a steam pipe, A, leading
from the boiler of the engine,
under the cow-catcher, and
connecting with a bent pipe,
E, secured upon the nose or
lower rail of the cow-catcher,
as shown in Figure 2. This
pipe is perforated with nu-
merous small holes. In the
steam supply pipe there is
a cock connected by a rod to
the lever placed in the cab in
convenient position for ope-
ration by the fireman or en-
gineer. In most cases the
supply pipe enters the boiler
at or a little below the ordi-
nary level of the water, so
that upon turning the cock
some water will be forced out
with the steam and thrown
some distance ahead of the
engine. This is very effective
in frightening and driving
the stock off the track. In
case the water in the boiler is
below the pipe, the cloud of
vapor and the hissing noise
produced by the escape of
steam will be effective in
frightening and driving off
the animals. The pipe, how-
ever, in most cases will be
located so that upon opening
the cock both steam and water
will be ejected from the per-
forations of the pipe.

This invention was lately
patented by Mr. Willard A.

Place, of Lincoln, Neb., who should be addressed for fur-
ther information.

Railway Wear and Tear.

A curious fact was lately mentioned by Mr. F. W. Webb,
president of the Manchester Association of Employers, etc.
The Northwestern Railway Company, he stated, used steel
rails, and yet the wear under the ordinary traffic of the road

was so great that one-third of a pound of steel was lost on
every mile run, or 1,500 pounds every hour of the day. The
collective wear of the locomotive engines, of which there
are 1,679, was such that a new engine was required to be
put into the traffic once in five days.

■ . m i > i o

NOVEL REIN-HOLDER.
The engraving shows a novel rein-holder lately patented
by Mr. Nathan S. Whitney, of North Alton, 111. It can be

WHITNEY'S IMPROVED KEIN-HOLDER.

attached to the dashboard of a vehicle or to a frame behind
or in front of the dashboard, or it may be placed in any
other convenient position. It may be provided with a lan-
tern, as in the engraving, or it may be made very plain and
inexpensive. Figure 1 in the engraving is a perspective
view, and Figure 2 a plan view.

A cylinder made of metal, with a roughened or serrated
outer surface, is attached vertically on a base plate by a
screw bolt, which also passes through an aperture or slot iu

The casing is provided with panes of glass and with a
lamp connected with an oil reservoir, separated from the
lamp by a double walled partition, which prevents the oil
from being heated. The casing is also provided with a shield
which prevents the heat of the flame from acting on the
burner and oil tube. The inner wall of the Ian! ern is remova-
ble to admit of lighting and trimming the lamp. The top
of the inner casing is provided with a chimney, and is
thoroughly guarded against the wind. The base plate is
attached to the top of the dash board or to a metal standard
fixed to the vehicle, behind or in front of the dashboard,
and extending across the front of the vehicle.

The casing swings on its pivot, and when the reins are to
be held the casing is turned so that the distance between the
casing and the cylinder is increased sufficiently to admit the
reins. The casing being then released, the reins will be pressed
between the casing and the cylinder. If the horse pulls on
the reins the surfaces of the cylinder and the casing will ap-
proach still nearer to each other and the reins will be
held more firmly between them. The apparatus is so
arranged that the driver, by pulling on the reins, may release
them from the holder.

Habits of Orinoco Natives.

A French naval doctor, M. Crevaux, has lately made im-
portant explorations in the northern parts of South America,
more especially in the valley of the Orinoco and its affluents.
Among other facts of observation, he slates that the Gua-
raunos, at the delta of that river, take refuge in the trees
when the delta is inundated. There they make a sort of
dwelling with branches and clay. The women light, on a
small piece of floor, the fire needed for cooking, and the
traveler on the river by night often sees with surprise long
rows of flames at a considerable height in the air. The
Guaraunos dispose of their dead by hanging them in ham-
mocks in the tops of trees. Dr. Crevaux, in the course of
his travels, met with geophagous, or earth eating, tribes. The
clay, which often serves for their food whole months, seems
to be a mixture of oxide of iron and some organic sub-
stances. They have recourse to it more especially in times of
scarcity; but, strange to say, there are eager gourmands for
the substance, individuals in whom the depraved taste be-
comes so pronounced that they may be seen tearing pieces
of ferruginous clay from huts made of it and putting them
in their mouths.

PLACE'S STOCK ALARM FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

one end of a strip of metal, resting on top of the base plate
and below the bottom of the roughened cylinder. The op-
posite end of this strip supports one end of a casing provided
with curved sides, roughened or serrated on the outer sur-
face, and pivoted eccentrically so that it may act in conjunc-
tion with the roughened cylinder in holding the reins. The
casing is pressed forward toward the roughened cylinder by
a spiral spring coiled around its pivot.

Ocean Telegraph Cable.

At a recent meeting of the stockholders of the Anglo-
American Telegraph Company, London, Viscount Monck,
the chairman, said he was happy to inform them that
their cables were all working, and were in good condition.
One of the cables had been broken close to the shore at
Valencia in one of the storms which occurred last autumn,
but he was happy to inform them that since the report was
presented that cable had been restored to working condition,
and was now doing its duty equally with the rest of their
cables. Bad weather — storms for instance — were unfavor-
able to cable property. They
were injurious to it in two
ways — first, mechanically, be-
cause they found that the
action of the waves in shallow
water had a great tendency
to fray the cables, and so de-
stroy their efficiency ; and that
actually occurred the other
day in the case of the 1874
cable, the repair of which he
had just announced to them.
But there was another mode
in which storms and atmo-
spheric disturbances affected
their cables very much, and
that was the effect they had
on the electrical conductivity
of the cables. When the at-
mosphere became surcharged
with electricity it very often
happened that the electrical
conductivity of their cables
was either diminished or pos-
siblywhollydestroyed. Luck-
ily they had escaped anything
of that kind this year, but on
former occasions it had oc-
curred, and might occur
again. He thought that the
state of their cables was mat-
ter for congratulation. He
would remind them that one
of their cables, which was
working with perfect effi-
ciency (the Frenchcablefrom
Brest to St. Pierre), had now
been nearly thirteen years
under the ocean. He believed he was correct in slating that
it was the oldest Atlantic cable in existence — it had lasted
longer than any other Atlantic cable laid down. It had been
necessary to take a fault out of that cable, and for that pur-
pose it had been lifted from a depth of 1,700 fathoms — a
fact which he considered was matter of congratulation, and
one showing that the cable must originally have been of Very
good stuff.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

March 18, 1882.]

SftuntUit %mttmu.

i6y

NEW TOOL HOLDER FOR GRINDSTONES.

We give an engraving of an improved device for holding
tools - such as chisels, plane bits, etc. etc. — to a grindstone
in such a way that one person can turn the stone and
control the position of the tool conveniently at the same
time without damaging or mutilating the cutting edge of the
tool and without danger to the operator.

The device consists in tongs with adjustable jaws for hold-
ing the tool to be sharpened, the end of the tongs being
pivoted in a block sliding on an upright of the grindstone
frame. When not in use the tongs is supported by a ratchet
bar passing through a slot in the upright.

The article to be sharpened, a plane bit or a chisel, for ex-
ample, is clamped between the jaws by means of the ring
which holds the shanks of the jaws together, the upper jaw

BAYHA'S TOOL HOLDER FOR GRINDSTONES.

having been previously adjusted according to the thickness
of the plane bit or chisel. The sliding block is then adjusted
higher or lower, according to the desired bevel of the cut-
ting edge, for the bevel varies with the inclination of the
tongs, and this inclination varies with the position of the
block, on which the end of one shank of the tongs is held
by a ball-and-socket joint. Wben the tool that is being
sharpened is to be held above the periphery of the stone
the ratchet bar is drawn upward a suitable distance, and the
tongs'is allowed to rest on the upper end of the bar.

This invention was recently patented by Messrs. George G.
and Benjamin D. Bayha, of Niobrara, Neb., who should be
addressed for further informatiou.

« in >

FOUR-BARRELED HAMMERLESS GUN.

There has always bsen an obstacle to using a revolving
gun for sporting purposes, because of the inconvenience
experienced by the revolutions of the barrels. The inven-
tion illustrated, however, completely solves tbe difficulty.

This four-barreled gun, although constructed on the
principle of the.ordinary revolver, differs in that, instead of
the chambers turning before each discharge, a piston-like
hammer rod is made to perform a similar office by the pull
of the trigger, its head being
brought to bear in turn on the
center of the four barrels,
wbich are brazed together in
tbe usual way, so as to form a
square, and are fitted to a
break-off, which is necessarily
of double the usual height.
The action may be either the
"double grip" or "snap;"
but, though the prong of the
break-off is solid, the extra
leverage brought to bear on
it by the u>iper pair of bar-
rels requires some top con-
nection, and a " doll's head "
is therefore used to give great-
er security.

To understand the construc-
tion of the lock, it must be
considered as having three
offices to perform: First, the
simple blow necessary for the
explosion of the cap; second-
ly, the cocking process; and,

thirdly, the rotation of the hammer rod which it has to
perform — the three being here placed in the reverse order of
that which they go through in practice. To effect the blow
a solid steel rod is firmly socketed, parallel with the axis of
the barrels, and opposite the central point between the four.
Its forward end is turned to a right angle, enabling it to
reach a little beyond the centers of the four barrels, when
it revolves in succession toward them, and is then capable
of giving a blow to the selected striker, of which there are

four fixed in the usual way in the break-off. On this rod is
a collar, which receives the blow of a flat tumbler placed on
one side of it, and furnished with a swivel and a flat main-
spring hung on the rebounding principle.

To cock this rod there is behind the tumbler another col-
lar, by which it brings back the hammer rod to full-cock
from the half-cock, where it was left by the rebound. There
is only one trigger, which is either of the usual form or
like a ring, as shown in the engraving. To this is hinged a
lifting scear, which fits into a deep bent or notch, cut in
the tumbler in such a form that as the trigger is pulled it
lifts the tumbler backward over its center or axle, and at
the same time compresses the mainspring.

There is a quarter revolution of the hammer rod to be
effected, so as to bring its head in turn on each of the four
barrels. This is done by cutting four inclined grooves or
slots on the rod, as well as a corresponding number of
straight slots in front of the tumbler and opening into one
another. Into these slots there is fitted, on a spring plate, a
stud, so placed that the hammer rod, being drawn back by
the tumbler, is made to rotate one-quarter of a circle by the
inclined grooves; and, this being done after each barrel is
fired, the four are discharged in succession by so many
pulls of tbe trigger. These slots are cut of different depths,
the spring of the stud dropping from one to the other at
the desired points, so as to effect: the revolution, wben in the
inclined slot, and yet permit the hammer bolt to pass
straight forward in striking the blow, and return to the
slanting slot for the next quarter turn. By a combination
of these three movements, as the trigger is pulled, it, by
the aid of its lifting scear, raises the tumbler (and with it
the hammer rod) to full cock. While doing this, the stud in
the spring plate above mentioned has caused the rod t o revolve
a quarter turn, and has consequently brought its head from
the center of the barrel last fired to that next in succession.
The scear then leaves the bent free, when the tumbler drives
the hammer rod forward to explode the cap. Immediately
after this, a long straight spring under the front of the trig-
ger carries the scear into the bent of the tumbler, ready for
the next shot, in which it is assisted by a light spring between
tbe scear and trigger.

It is difficult to imagine anything more simple than this
piece of mechanism, though it requires the elaborate descrip-
tion we have given it to make it intelligible.

location of the surface of the ice, if they gnawed their way
out. — Providence Journal.

Six Cents a Piece for Wasps.
Wasps are such an obstacle in the way of English fruit
growers that one of them, Mr. William Taylor, thinks it
worth while to pay three pence each for queens. And
last season he bought and destroyed no less than 1,192.
About 230 nests have been annihilated within a mile of his
premises, and still there is enough left for seed. He de-
clares that the price named is not too high, "since it takes
considerable skill to catch them," and because of their enor-
mous fecundity, of which he says, in the Cottage Gardener:
"Understand that every wasp seen before the middle of
June is a queen, and liable to have a nest of 10,000 at least.
I lately estimated the number of cells in a rather large nest,
and made out 9,000 of them. A great many of the young
had flown, and fresh eggs were laid in their places, and I
have reason to believe that there is often more than one
succession of young insects from the same cells, therefore
10,000 is a comparatively small family."

A Schooner Sunk by Rats.

The fishing schooner Addie Thatcher had a singular mis-
hap recently. She was laid, up at Wilson's wharf, Fall
River, for the winter, and during the recent cold snap rats

IMPROVED FIRE ESCAPE.

The engraving represents an improved fire escape recently
patented by Mr. John S. Shaw, of Rosita, Custer County,
Col.

The window-sill is made hollow, of cast iron or other suit-
able material, and is provided witb a door opening down-
ward. In the chamber of the sill is stored a folding iron
ladder, the links and rounds of which are bent from one
piece of wire and jointed together, as shown in the engrav-
ing.

The upper link of the ladder is attached at one end by a
ring surrounding a vertical rod fixed in the hollow sill. The

SHAW'S FIRE ESCAPE.

other end of the link is attached to a short piece of chain
secured to the window sill.

The ladder is compactly folded and stored in the chamber
of the sill, and when desired for use it can be readily dropped
at a moment's notice. This device is simple, inexpensive, and
always ready.

To Prevent Plaster from Adhering.

Liquid silex, carefully applied with a small bristle brusb,
and allowed to dry before packing the flask, leaves the plate
with a durable polish less liable to absorb the fluids of the
mouth than is the ordinary finish, especially the palatine
surface of plates with deep undercuts. Of course, a first
requisite is smooth plaster casts. Keep the liquid silex in a
short bottle with a rubber stopper. Wash the brush in hot
water after using. Don't leave the brush in the bottle. —
Dental Register.

« in »

LANCASTER'S FOUR-BARRELED HAMMERLESS GUN.

gnawed a hole through her planks just above the ice, the
bottom of the hole being en a level with the ice. The hole
was not noticed at the time, and 1he weight of snow upon
the deck caused the vessel to settle until the water ran in
through the hole and she sank. She has since been bailed
out and the liole has been patched up. The wiseacres of
the neighborhood are discussing the problem whether the

Demand for Practical Men.

One of the happiest outcomes of the Atlanta fair is the
demand that has sprung up, not for more money, but for
more men in the South, practical men, as they are pleased to

style them down there, by
which they mean mechanics,
not those whose trades are
their masters, but who are
masters of their trades; farm-
ers who can handle a plow as
well as direct some one to do
it.

And this demand is not
coming from those who are
dazed with the cotton manu-
facturing craze, but from
farmers, blacksmiths, tailors,
machine shops, and other in-
dustries quite as much needed
and vastly more profitable
than cotton manufactories.

There is scarcely an opera-
tive now at work at the fair
who has not had from one to
a dozen proffers of employ-
ment at the South, some of
which have been accepted.
This demandon the part of tbe
business men of the South
is of the utmost significance, inasmuch as it implies a recog-
nition on their part of the fact, so patent to us here in the
North, tbat men are needed vastly more in the South to-day
than money. The future development of the woriderfu!
natural resources of the South depends vastly more on men
than on money.
The land is teeming with richness for other things besides

rats gnawed their way out or in, there being a difference of ; cotton, and when they get the " practical " farmers, whether
opinion concerning the ability of the animals to fix upon the | from the North or from among their own people, a radical

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

i68

Sftitntiiic Amtitm.

[March 18, 1882.

revolution may be confidently looked for in the manner of
doing things agriculturally and otherwise in that section of
the country. Brain and brawn have in part made the North
what it is to-day. The South needs the same elements.

* < » > » •

Railway matters.

At the recent annual dinner of the Manchester Association
of Employers, Foremen, and Draughtsmen, held at Man-
chester, Mr. F. "W. "Webb, of Crewe, the president, spoke at
length on matters connected with the management of rail-
ways.

Alluding to the increased use of steel, he claimed that the
London and Northwestern Railway Company had been the
first great firm to recognize the importance of the improve-
ments of Bessemer and Siemens. Steel had been substituted
in nearly every portion of the locomotive which formerly
was made of iron. At present thecompany had l,679engin*s
with steel boilers, and so far they had every reason to be
satisfied with the result. The company was also one of the
first to use Bessemer steel plates for its passenger vessels.
It now had four first-class steamers constructed of this mate-
rial running regularly between Holyhead and Ireland, and
from the examination made from time to time of the hulls
of these vessels it was found that the material admirably
answered its purpose. The plates had been manufactured
under his superintendence. They had the misfortune last
year to get one of their steel vessels on a sunken rock at the
entrance to Carlingford Lough. Had it been built of iron he
felt certain it would have become a total wreck. As it was,
ninety feet of her keel passed over the sunken rock, which
bulged it in some places to the extent of five or six inches,
but there was not a single crack in the plates, and no water
got into the vessel.

Notwithstanding improvements in material the quantity
of tails annually required for repairs and renewals on the
London and Northwestern Railway was now 20,000 tons.
For every mile run, the actual loss of rails was about one-
third of a pound of steel, so that on the London and North-
western Railway 15 cwt. of steel disappeared from the rails
every hour of the day. The collective wear and tear of loco-
motives on the London and Northwestern Railway necessi-
tated a new engine being put into the traffic every five work-
ing days. The question of the future permanent way was a
very important one, and one that sooner or later would have
to be dealtw ith, as with the immense consumption of wooden
sleepers going on all over the world we would be sure in a
short time to find ourselves on the very verge of a terrible
famine. They had tried to solve the problem themselves on
the London and Northwestern Railway by introducing a
sleeper made of iron or steel, the chairs themselves being
made of steel, worked up from the crop ends of rails. Most
of the schemes which had been adopted had failed for want
of elasticity from the facts that the bolts and nuts had been
used to a large extent. In the chairs on which several miles
had been laid down on the London and Northwestern Rail-
way they had tried to avoid all these defects, and certainly
they had every promise of success. Between the surface of
the chairs and the rail, and also between the rail and the
sleeper, a sheet of bitumenized brown paper was placed
before the chairs were riveted by hydraulic power to the
sleeper itself. This was intended to obviate the grinding
away of the metal surfaces. The wooden key had been re-
tained, and placing it outside, as they did, they got a most
perfect cushion between the rail and chair, and as far as they
had tried it, in consequence of the key swelling into the hol-
low made in the chair bracket, stamping up. They had not
had a single instance in which the key had worked back. If
iron or steel could be introduced successfully for sleepers
the world would be able to find for iron and steel industries
work equal in amount tothat required forthe making of rails.

The constantly increasing weights of passenger trains, and
the question of how to provide more powerful locomotives
than existing ones without having more weight upon a pair
of wheels than a road will carry with economy, was a prob-
lem yet to be solved, as also was the question of further econ-
omy in the working of the locomotive. Thinking the com-
pound principle, if simply carried out, would do something
toward this end, he had designed an engine in accordance
therewith. The engine had two pairs of driving wheels, one
pair being driven by the high-pressure cylinders, and the
second pair by one low-pressure cylinder, the use of coup-
ling rods, which gave trouble at high speeds, being abandoned.
He had been enabled to do this without complicating things,
thanks to the valve motions brought out by Mr. David Joy.
This system did away with the old eccentrics; not that the
old eccentrics had been a bad contrivance, but on the nar-
row gauge there was no room for wide bearings for them,
so as to allow the engine to run without hot brass. He had
called the engine " Experiment," but from her performance
he thought it was an experiment they would repeat. Last
week he had the engine out for its first run in the traffic,
starting from. Crewe as the assisting engine with a very
heavy train to Euston. Next morning he ran the engine with
the 7:15 Irish mail from Euston to Holyhead, arriving there
at 1:40, and leaving again at 3 o'clock with the boat express.

The engine maintained its steam to the point of blowing
off the whole journey, and only consumed 23 - 54 pounds of
coal per mile for the whole trip, including that for raising
steam. Seeing that theengine was new, and the men strange
to one of this construction, he thought it showed that some-
thing might be done in still further economizing the fuel in
locomotives. The fact that a new compound engine ran
during its first round trip upward of 53$ utiles, and was as

cool at the end of its journey as when it started, promised
well for the future.

Another problem which had been before them for the last
few years was the question of continuous brakes. There were
many inventions in the field, but out of over a thousand
patents for brakes which he had examined, one taken out by
Messrs. Swinburne & Laining, in 1865, had the germ of a
good many of them. Most of the leading engineers had been
against the automatic action, firmly believing that these ma-
chines would be more liable to cause mischief than to help
in avoiding it, and this belief had been verified by more than
one unfortunate accident. On looking at one of the engi-
neering papers, which were supposed to deal impartially
with these questions, he was really surprised to see the re-
marks made in one of them relative to the Blackburn acci-
dent. The paper went so far as to state that a snubbing had
been given by the president of the Board of Trade to one of
their oldest and most respected officers. The factwas, there
was not so much snubbing in it, after all. The appendix to the
report states things very clearly. It is essential the defects
in the automatic brake should be provided against, and every
precaution taken to insure the brake acting only when re-
quired. So far as the principal English railways were con-
cerned, they were arriving at a solution of the difficulty, and
they had to thank in some degree Messrs. Gresham& Craven,
who had rendered considerable assistance, and who had
made the manufacture of the necessary details a specialty.

« in »

Manufacture of Clos Soles and Wooden Shoes.

The works of the Mersey "Wood Working Company, Bed-
ford place, Bootle, is the occasion of the following particu-
lars in the Bootle Times :

The principal manufacture carried on at these wooks is
that of wooden soles for what are called in Lancashire
"clogs," in France "sabots." Familiaras are the "wooden
shoon," few persons would conceive how ingeniously the
manufacture of the soles is conducted and how vast are the
quantities which are issued daily, weekly, and hourly from
these works. The yard was first visited where there is usu-
ally stored from two to three thousand tons of timber. The
native timber is first stripped of its bark, the foreign logs
being already barked when imported. The logs are then
raised from the yard by a crane and cut up by circular saws
into segments averaging about a foot long. Thesesegments
are next cut into planks of convenient size, a dozen saws
working at once and the planking being effected with mar-
velous rapidity, about sixty tons of wood being cut up into
clog soles every day. On the side of each plank a metal
gauge is laid, and a girl with a pencil roughly outlines the
size and number of soles which can be cut from it. The
planks pass on to a band saw, where they are cut up into
blocks With the required curvature for a sole. Thence they
pasja to the roughening machine which roughly shapes them.
Another machine cuts the sides; another shapes the shanks;
yet another rounds the heels; and yet another shapes the
toes. They pass next to a revolving cutter, which roughly
hollows the upper side of the sole, and subsequently this
hollowed surface is smoothed in another machine. They
pass next through the various finishing machines, where the
bottoms, sides, shanks, heels, and toes are successively ren-
dered perfectly smooth by friction with swiftly revolving
bands covered with a mixture containing ground glass and
other attritive materials which scour them in the same way
as if with sand or emery paper. They next go to the grip-
ping machine which bevels the edges, leaving a "grip " to
which the leather boot uppers can be fastened.

It will thus be seen that the sole of each wooden shoe, from
the time when the log of wood is first cut into segments to
the time when the edges are beveled by the gripping machine,
passes through fifteen distinct machines, and as the required
sections are marked by hand, and the right and left sides of
toes and heels are separately shaped, each sole passes through
the hands of eighteen different workpeople. Perhaps the
advantages of the "division of labor " have never been ex-
hibited in any manufacture with more remarkable results.
The motive power for these various processes is supplied by
a pair of sixty horse power compound high and low pressure
condensing engines. The waste wood is also manufactured
at these works into a valuable commercial product. It is
chopped up by machinery, treated with chemicals,
steeped to a condition of softness, and all knotty pieces hav-
ing been removed, the softened woody fiber is drained and
compressed between a series of rollers until it is transferred
into sheets of pulp, or rather half made paper, which is sup-
plied to paper manufacturers, and being mixed with other
materials is transferred into some of the best qualities of
paper. Lord Hamilton was shown a sample of fine rose-
tinted note paper which was made chiefly from the waste
cuttings off wooden clog soles.

The works include a chemical laboratory and joiners',
fitters', and grinders' shops. The extensive cellars are stored
with clog soles, which are kept there for the time necessary
to season the wood before being finished, and vast quanti-
ties of finislied goods are passing daily from the warerooms
to English, continental, and colonial markets.

^ t 9 t *» '

MECHANICAL INVENTIONS.

Messrs. Theophilus Tanner and Hermann H. Fischer, of
Osage, Neb., have patented an improvement in post-hole
diggers, in which a cogged cylinder is attached to the auger
shank and follows it downward as it is rotated by the
gearing. Racks and pinions are used to raise the auger and
its load of earth.

Mr. Nelson Aravg, o f Hooper, Utah Territory, has patented
an improved fruit-stoning machine, which consists of a
series of circular knives supported in a frame and revolv.
ing in vertical planes, and converging to a common center,
with their edges far enough apart to permit the passage be-
tween them of the fruit stones, the knives being designed to
draw in the fruit and to slice and strip the flesh from thestones.

An improved speed regulator for horse powers has been
patented by Mr. Barnard L. Olds, of St. Albans, Vt. This
invention relates to devices for insuring regular and uniform
motion to horse-powers, and preventing sudden increase of
speed in case of accidents, such as the belts slipping from
their pulleys; and it consists in an equnlizing lever, com-
bined with centrifugal weights and a winding drum for ope-
rating on the brake.

An improved moulding machine has been patented by
Mr. James Anderson, of Boston, Mass. This improvement
relates to machines for forming spiral mouldings upon stair-
way posts and similar articles. This is accomplished by
automatic mechanism and by devices which allow variations
in the character of the ornamentation.

An improved rock-drilling machine has been patented by
Mr. August Pirch, of Denver, Col. The object of this in
vention is to combine a number of drills in such manner that
they can be operated singly, or two or more, so that a hole
may be drilled of any size desired and according to the
nature of the material operated upon.

An improved saw frame has been patented by Mr. Charles
H. Bennett, of Blossburg, Pa. The invention consists of
externally inclined clamps, one of which has an inside stud
passing through the other clamp and through the saw, and
the triangular yokes on the inner ends of adjustable screws,
the adjustable screws passing through opposite ends of a
curved saw frame.

A cheap and efficient sand guard for the wheels of car-
riages, wagons, etc., has been patented by Messrs. John P.
Schoeni anii Allen A. Link, of Hubbardston, Mich. It con-
sists of a folded or plicated cup adapted to fit upon the axle,
in combination with an overhanging rim or flange to be se-
cured upon the hub of the wheel.

Messrs. "William "W. "Wallace and John A. Kramer, of
Frankfort, Ind., have patented an improved clay crusherand
separator, which consists of two rolls set side by side and
parallel with each other in suitable housings, each roll having
formed on its face a right-hand groove, thread, or screw,
extending from the center to one end, and a left-hand screw
or groove extending from the center to the other end. The
rolls are then set in their housings with the right-hand
thread or screw on one roll in opposition to the left-hand
groove, screw, or thread on the opposite roll, so that when
the clay is introduced between the rolls through a hopper
fixed centrally over them the stones in the clay are carried in
the screws or grooves to the one or other end of the rolls
and there ejected, while the clay passes through between the
faces of the rolls, and is thereby crushed or pulverized to the
desired condition.

A simple, durable, and easily applied friction clutch for
pulleys, gear wheels, etc., has been patented, by Mr. John
J. Daly, of Boston, Mass. This invention cannot be clearly
described without engravings.

A novel water cart has been patented by Mr. John G.
Littlefisld, of Milton, Mass. The object of this invention
is to provide for filling the tanks of water carts, especially
street watering carts, rapidly and conveniently in situations
where water under pressure is not to be had, the cart horses
being used for that purpose.

A combined lathe and drilling machine, patented by Mr.
John F. Rakes, of Greenup, Ky., consists in a. novel arrange-
ment of a reciprocating drilling machine, by which provision
is made for converting the frame of the drilling machine
into the frame of a lathe, and for driving the lathe by the
wheel used for operating the drill.

An Underground River.

Mete Green, not long since while out with his cattle, made
a most startling discovery and one that may possibly take its
place among the grand wonders of Idaho. He was riding
along early in the morning on the divide between Indian
Creek and Snake River, when his horse sprang aside, snorted,
and otherwise gave evidence of having seen or heard some-
thing unusual. The spot was on a little knoll on the comb
of the ridge, and Mete, who had been almost asleep, taking
a sweep around with his eyes to learn the cause of his
horse's behavior, finally rested his vision on what seemed
to be a hole in the ground a few paces distant. Dismount-
ing he was soon looking into a funnel-shaped orifice fifteen
or twenty feet deep by ten or twelve at its rim in diameter.
At the bottom of this funnel— the soil giving cut there-
was a rift in the rock two or three feet in width by four or
five in length, which seemed to open into the very bowels of
the earth. Through this aperture came up from the depths
below a terrible roaring, as if a leaping cataract, a mighty
rush of waters, tumbling over rocks. The ground trembled,
and the subterranean noise continued uninterruptedly. Mete
remained some time, and the longer he listened the more
convinced he became that what he heard was running water,
but how far down to the stream he could not even conjec-
ture—it might have been a few feet or half way to China.
And as the fissure was large enough to take him in should
his foot slip or " head swim, his observation was not an
extended one. The principal thing he did while there was
to listen low and strong and think 'loud— at a safe distance
from the brink of the hole.— Idaho Democrat,

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

March 18, 1882.]

gtuutitit %mmtm.

169

TWO-STOKY BIRDS' NESTS.

BY DANIEL C. BEARD.

While the expanding leaves of tree and shrub retain the
tender tints of pink, and the broad lily pads commence to
mosaic the surface of the ponds with green, in perfect
harmony with the bursting bud and opening flower comes
the summer yellowbird, and from hedge and bush may be
heard his song, as simple and pleasing as the tasteful but
modest plumage that covers his little person. Almost imme-
diately after the first appearance of these industrious little
birds they commence their preparations for housekeeping.
The male bird fiies busily about selecting such material as
feathers, plants, fibers, the furze from ferns, the catkins from
willows, and other similar objects, all of which he brings to
his mate, who arranges and fashions their delicate nest. So
quickly and deftly do this little couple labor that they
build the greater part of their house in a single day.

There is often a third party interested in the construction
of this nest, a homeless, happy-go-lucky Bohemian bird,
who has a sort of tramp's interest in the housekeeping ar-
rangements of most of the smaller feathered denizens of
copse and woods. This is the well-known cow blackbird,
who disdains to shackle her freedom with the care of a fami-
ly, and shifts a mother's responsibility by farming her pro-
geny out, while she seeks the incongruous but apparently
congenial companionship of the cattle, with whom she
appears to be on the most intimate terms.

The cow blackbird deposits its eggs indiscriminately
among the nests of smaller birds. The black-
bird's eggs generally hatch out a day or two
before the adopted mother's own eggs, so, when
the legitimate members of the family do come,
it is to find their nest already occupied by the
strong, lusty interlopers, who, on account of
their superior size and strength, come in for the
lion's share of all the food brought to the nest.
Thus the innocent parents rear the aliens, while
their own young starve. It is really a pitiable
sight to see a couple of little greenlets anxiously
searching from daybroak till evening for food to
fill the capacious crop of one or more young cow
blackbirds, considerably larger than the green-
lets themselves.

The summer yellowbird, though confiding
little creatures, are not readily duped or imposed
upon. Their instinct is sufficiently near reason for
them to detect the difference between their own
little fragile, prettily-marked, greenish-colored
eggs and the great dark colored ones the vaga-
bond cow blackbird has surreptitiously smuggled
into the cozy nest. The domestic little couple
cling to the spot selected for their house and will
not leave it, neither will they hatch the obnoxious
eggs, which they are apparently unable to throw
out; but the difficulty is soon surmounted, and so
are the gratuitous eggs, for the indefatigable
workers proceed at once to cover up the cow
blackbird's eggs, constructing a new nest oc top
of the old one, building a second story, as it
were, to their house.

Last summer Mr. Lang Gibson brought me
one of these two-story nests which he found at.
Flushing, L. I.; the lower nest contained two
cow blackbird's eggs, and the upper one three
eggs of the summer yellowbird. Gibson watched
the construction of the nest. Visiting it again after
it was finished, he discovered the egg of a cow
blackbird. Next day two of these eggs occu-
py the nest. Some time afterward, to his sur-
prise, he found the nest contained three eggs of the yellow-
bird and no signs of the existence of those deposited by the
blackbird, but the nest had the appearance of being much
taller than at first, and an examination disclosed the true
facts of the case.

The accompanying illustration was drawn by the writer
from this compound nest. The upper story or nest is partly
lifted so as to show the cow blackbird's eggs in the nest
below.

Fig. 1 shows the cow blackbird's egg, and] Fig. 2 the yel-
lowbird's egg. These are drawn exactly the size of nature.

Mr. Nuttal was the first naturalist, I believe, to record the
observation of these two-story nests. Baird mentions a
three-story nest, each of the lower nests containing the eggs
of the cow blackbird, the whole structure being seven
inches high.

■ < i > i »

Asiatic Tribes in North America.

From the Proceedings of the Canadian Institute, we are
in receipt of a brochure of thirty-eight pages from the pen
of Professor John Campbell, on the Asiatic Tribes of North
America. In this the author indicates the origin of three
Indian families: the Tinneh or Athabascans, the Iroquois,
and the Choctaws. The Tinneh family are associated with
the Tungusians of Siberia and Northern China, and the
Iroquois and Ohoctaws (who with the Cherokees are simply
disguised Iroquois) with the populations of Northeastern
Asia, classed by Dr. Latham as Peninsular Mongohdae.
With respect to the Tinneh, Professor Campbell, at the
close of his argument, remarks: " Certainly, no two families
representing the Old World and the New present closer
affinities in name, vocabulary, grammar, physical appear-
ance, dress, arts, manners, and customs, than do the Tun-
gus of Asia and the Tinnea of America,"

Under the term Choctaw is included the entire Muscogee
family, together with the Cherokees, the Ohoctaws repre-
renting the Tchuktchi or Tshekts, and the Cherokees the
Koriaks or Koraeki. The Tuscaroras of the South are taken
as the oldest and purest form of the Wyandot-Iroquois, and
through them the last named family are brought into rela-
tionship with the Choctaw-Cherokees, and by this path with
the Koriaks in Northeastern Asia. — Amer. Naturalist.

The Composition of Human Fat.

Dr. Lebedeff, of Moscow, has contributed a short memoir
toHoppe-Seyler's Zeitscleriftfilr Physiologisehe Chemie,'_on the
subject of the metabolism of fat in the body, in the course
of which he takes occasion to give the results of his observa-
tion on the composition of human fat, a point that, singu-
larly enough, does not appear to have received attention
from any observer. Ohevreul indeed examined the melting
point of the fat of man, and found the panniculus adiposus
melted at from 20° to 22° C, and set or solidified at from 12°
to 15° C, and Lerch noticed that capronic acid existed in
human fat, but there are very few, if any, other observa-
tions. Lebedeff states that fat from various regions of the
body presents differences, but they are only slight in degree.
Its color is yellowish or brownish. At ordinary tempera-
tures it is rather hard, or semi-solid, and destitute of smell.
It dissolves with difficulty in cold alcohol. Its specific
gravity is always less than 1°. The fat obtained from the
subcutaneous connective tissue contained in one case 80 per

do with it. A smaller landslide, four years ago, gave rise
to local fears of a volcanic eruption. The fallen part of the
peak is described as a " slice half a mile square."

TWO-STORY BIRDS' NESTS.

cent of oleic acid, and 167 per cent of solid acids, that is,
palmitic and stearic acids; in another case 78 - 6 per cent of
the former and 14 - 7 of the latter acid. Fat froip the abdo-
men contained in one case 74'4 per cent of oleic acid, and
22 per cent of palmitic and stearic acids, in a second 76 - 6
per cent of oleic acid, and 20 - 9 per cent of palmitic and

stearic acids.

« in »

Brunelli Process of Embalming.

The process of embalming is as follows, and is called the
" Brunelli process : " 1. The circulatory system is cleansed
by washing with cold water till it issues quite clear from
the body. This may occupy from two to five hours. 2.
Alcohol is injected so as to abstract as much water as possi-
ble. This occupies about a quarter of an hour. 3. Ether
is then injected to abstract the fatty matter. This occupies
from two to ten hours. 4. A strong solution of tannin is
then injected. This occupies for imbibition two to ten
hours. 5. The body is then dried in a current of warm air
passed over heated chloride of calcium. This may occupy
two to five hours. The body is then perfectly preserved,
and resists decay. The Italians exhibit specimens which
are as hard as stone, retain the shape perfectly, and are
equal to the best wax models. It will be observed m this
process that those substances most prone to. decay are
removed, and the remaining portions are converted by the
lannin into a substance resembling leather.

Fall ol Bald mountain.

A large section of Bald Mountain, North Carolina, Dear
Bakersville, is said to have fallen into the valley February
13. The rumbling noise preceding the crash was heard for
miles. The cause of the fall is uncertain; probably the
recent heavy ram and snow storms have bad something to

Norwegian Fish Guano.

British Consul-General Crowe remarks, in his report upon
the trade and industries of Norway, that a large business is
rapidly springing up in the manufacture of fish guano, and
that the heads, bones, and refuse of all kinds of fish, which
a few years ago were wasted, are now advantageously uti-
lized in the manufacture of this article. The first factory
was established for making this kind of guano in Lofoden
about 1860, and since then their number has increased from
time to time. The Norwegian fish guano is made by grind-
ing fish offal, composed chiefly of heads and bones of the
cod, or gadus morrhua, which are collected during the large
cod fisheries. The heads and backbones are removed previ-
ous to curing, and the followingsubstancesarelikewiseused
in the manufacture of guano: damaged dried fish, dried and
split codfish damaged by sea water, herring heads, damaged
herrings, all kinds of fresh fish, and flesh of whales and
Greenland sharks; but the different descriptions of raw ma-
terials used require a different mode of preparation. The
Norwegian manufacturers make their guano almost exclu-
sively from the heads and spines of the codfish, while offal
from herrings and soft parts of cod and other fish are but
seldom utilized for this purpose, as the expense of producing
guano from the latter substance is greater and the product
of an inferior quality. The manure which origi-
nally appeared for sale under the name of Norwe-
gian fish guano was made exclusively of the first-
named substances, and, according to chemical
analysis, is composed of the following elements:
Water, 13 percent; organic substances(of which 8
per cent is nitrogen, and 7'6 per cent ammonia),
49'3 per cent, and inorganic substances (of which
14'9 per cent is phosphoric acid), 37'7 per cent.
This larger proportion of fertilizing agents has
led to its being held in such high favor in the
agricultural markets. It is manufactured as fol-
lows: The heads and bones of the fish are col-
lected at the fishing places and dried on the hills
in the open air, before putrefaction sets in, the
heads being tied in bundles of twenty each, and
the bones carefully separated. After having
been sufficiently dried, so as to be no longer ex-
posed to the risk of putrefaction, they are carried
into the manufactory, where they are cut into
small pieces, thoroughly dried on plates in a kiln,
and crushed, all by means of machines especially
constructed for this purpose; finally, the mass is
ground between large millstones to the fineness
of common flour. The heads ami bones are
crushed separately, but mixed together during
the grinding process. As a rule, one sack, con-
taining 204 pounds of bones, is mixed up witli
five sacks of heads ; this turns out the best result.
When guano is to be produced from damaged
salt fish and herrings, the mode of manufacture
is different, as the fish is not capable of being
dried when containing salt, which must be pre-
viously removed. This is effected by means of
a cylindric caldron of iron, furnished with the
necessary cranes and openings, for filling in and
taking out the raw material; after that the cylin-
der is filled, steam is led into the bottom of the
same from a boiler, and the mass exposed to a
pressure of 30 pounds for about half an hour,
sufficient to separate the salt, which runs off
through a channel in the cylinder. The mass is then taken
out, dried in the kiln, and crushed and ground in the man-
ner above described.

Fat is a similar hinderance to drying the raw mate-
rial. When guano, therefore, is to be produced from
herrings, or ilesh of whales, Greenland sharks, etc., the
mode of manufacture is the same as in the case of salt fish,
the fat being extracted by means of steam pressure, after
which the mass is easily dried and ground. Guano of her-
ring heads is manufactured in the same way as cod offal, the
raw material being simply dried and ground; but this guano
is of an inferior quality. As the quality of this manufacture
depends very much upon the kiln, great attention is always
paid to see that it is a thoroughly good one, as when the
mass is well dried, tha crushing and grinding is more easily
and perfectly effected; if, on the other hand, the kiln is not
a good one, it will cake together when ground, and yield a
rough and fibrous product.

All the Norwegian manufactories are situated in Lofoden
and Finmark, where the raw material can be procured
cheaply and abundantly, and where the first drying process
is easily effected in the peculiarly dry air of the northern
regions. The consumption of cods' heads for the manufac-
ture of guano is, on the average, about 16, 000, 000 per annum.
Consul Crowe states there isreason to believe that the utili-
zation of the offal from the fisheries will be carried on to a much
greater extent than hitherto, a Swedish engineer, M. Sahl-
strom, having recently made some very important discoveries
in this branch of industry. Among the articles to be pro
duced, the inventor first mentions albumen, which is to be
prepared from fish spawn. The annual yield of the latter
amounts to about 50,000 barrels, which at the present value
represents about £125,000, but if worked into albumen the
ralue would be at least £805,000.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

170

SftttntiiU %mnum.

[March 18, 1882.

ENGINEERING INVENTIONS.

Mr. George F. W. Harris, of Woodburn, 111., has patented
an improved grader for drains having two adjustable tres-
tles carrying adjustable screw hooks supporting a straight
bar suspended from the screw hooks, and carrying a travel-
ing pulley, from which is suspended a grading tool, by
which the bottom of the drain can be opened to a uniform
grade.

An improvement in compound engines, patented by Mr.
Michael Elsesser, of Brooklyn, N. Y., relates to that class
of steam engines which have two cylinders, one larger than
the other, the larger cylinder taking steam from the exhaust
of the smaller or primary cylinder. The invention con-
sists, principally, in forming the valves of the two cylinders
integral, and providing the same with a conduit for leading
the exhaust steam from the primary cylinder to the inlet
ports of the secondary cylinder and with an exhaust passage
for the steam from the secondary cylinder, the valves and
connecting conduit being contained in the valve chamber
and entirely surrounded by steam from the boiler.

An improved valve reversing gear has been patented by
Mr. John M. Sailer, of Ionia, Mich. The invention consists
of a novel eccentric adjusting cam in combination with the
valve rod eccentric, the latter being loosely fitted on the
engine shaft.

Mr. Hiram S. Maxim, of New York city, has recently
patented an apparatus for extinguishing fires among the
shipping and along the water front. The invention consists
of a fire extinguishing boat or floating fire engine capable
of throwing large volumes of water and of directing the
stream or streams as may be required. This boat was illus-
trated in our columns not long since.

An improvement in the stern of screw-propeller steamers
has been patented by Mr. Joseph W. Davis, of Port Jeffer-
son, N. Y. The object of this invention is to provide a -
strong and rigid bearing for the outer ends of the propeller
shafts of steamboats having a propeller shaft at each Side of
the rudder; and also to prevent one screw from disturbing
the water of the other screw. The invention consists in a
steamboat hull constructed with three stern posts, to the
center one of which the rudder is pivoted, the two screw
shafts having their bearings in the side stern posts.

Mr. James F. Marvin, of Fort McDowell, Arizona Terri-
tory, has recently patented an improvement in stamp mills.
The object of this invention is to increase the yield of stamps
in dry crushing. The invention consists in the arrange-
ment of two stamps with an inclined bed on one of the
stamps having a rotary grinding motion between its strokes.

An improved pressure roller for sawmills has recently
been patented by Mr. Charles E. Lewis, of Bay City, Mich.
The invention consists in a crosshead having downwardly
projecting arms, a double crank shaft pivoted to the arms of
the crosshead, and rollers placed upon the cranks, this
arrangement permitting the rollers to adjust themselves to
bear equally upon the logs, whether the logs be equal or un-
equal in thickness.

Mr. Henry Wells, of Glenwood, Iowa, has patented an
improvement in car couplings. This invention relates to
self-couplers, and it consists of a shouldered drawbar de-
signed to be fitted on the angle formed by the end and bot-
tom of a car, having a flaring mouth and a longitudinal
slot in its top for the movement of the coupling hook; and
it consists also of a peculiarly-shaped slotted coupling hook
and in novel devices for uncoupling.

Mr. William A, Roberts, of Battle Creek, Mich., has lately
patented an improvement in car brakes, which consists in a
lever pivoted to the bottom of the end of the car, and hav-
ing its lower end connected with the brake draw rods by a
chain passing over a pulley pivoted in a bracket arm on the
bottom of the car, so that when this lever is thrown the
chain will be drawn outward and draw the brake up tight.

Waterproof Bricks.

Mr. F. E. Kidder, of Boston, says; In order to ascertain
what amount of water the bricks would absorb in their
natural condition, two bricks of the same kind as those
which were treated with the waterproofing were immersed
in water, and at the end of one hour one brick had absorbed
9 - 7 per cent of its weight of water, and the other 10 per
cent. This was all that the bricks would absorb, as the
weight of the bricks did not increase after several hours'
immersion. To ascertain the effect of freezing on the satu-
rated bricks, one of them was exposed, for a few hours, to
a temperature somewhat below the freezing point of water,
and the freezing of the water in the bricks burst a piece
some three or four square inches in area, and about half an
inch thick at its thickest part, out of one face of the brick.

To test the protecting qualities of the waterproofing, three
of the same kinds of bricks, treated on all sides with water-
proofing, were immersed in water at a temperature of abont
65° Fahr. for seventy horns, when no increase could be de-
tected in the weight of the bricks due to immersion.

One of the bricks was afterward immersed in water which
was for a short time at a temperature of 78° Fahr., and at
the end of forty-three hours it had absorbed 0'6 of 1 per
cent of its weight of water. After 120 hours' further immer-
sion in water at 65° Fahr., it had absorbed 1 '7 per cent of
its weight of water. This brick had several small cracks in
it, through which this small amount of water probably
entered the brick.

Two other bricks of the same kind, treated on all sides,
were immersed in water at 65° Fahr. for one and a half
hours without absorbing any water.

In forty-five hours' immersion one brick absorbed - 8 of
1 per cent of its weight of water, while the other brick
absorbed no water at all.

During sixteen days' immersion the brick which before
had absorbed a small amount of water took up 1*3 per cent
of its weight of water, while the other brick took up only '7
of 1 per cent of its weight of water. Both of these bricks
had a large number of small cracks, and it was probably in
these cracks that the small amount of water taken up by
the bricks was contained.

The results of these tests may be summed up as follows:

Bricks not treated with waterproofing were entirely satu-
rated after one hour's immersion, when they contained about
one-tenth of their weight of water.

Three bricks treated on all sides with the waterproofing
solution absorbed no water during seventy hours' immersion
in water at the ordinary temperature.

Two bricks during sixteen days' immersion absorbed one
one-hundred-and-forty-fourth and one seventy-third of their
weight of water respectively. The protecting power of the
waterproofing is destroyed by immersing bricks treated witli
it in water at a higher temperature than 100° Fahr., and
probably even at a temperature of 85°. But bricks in ordi-
nary situations would never be subjected to the presence of
water at such high temperatures. The bricks tested were
treated with waterproofing about two months before the
tests were made.

Tidal Power.

The utilization of the power which exists in the rise and
fall of the tide has long been a favorite scheme with projectors,
but its application hitherto has been of very limited charac-
ter. The introduction of electric lighting, and the demand
which it creates for some economical motive power, seems
likely to give an impetus of a practical character to the vari-
ous proposals, which have hitherto been only discussed, for
rendering available the natural force which now lies waste
along our shores. Great Britain, from its insular character,
possesses advantages for the development of that force which
countries possessed of a less extended coast line cannot pos-
sibly have, and now that a demand exists which will repay
the outlay necessary to secure that development, we may ex-
pect to see rapid strides in this direction.

Attention has bsen called to this subject very prominently
during the last few weeks by the announcement that the
Corporation of Bristol had passed a vote to secure the advice
of some eminent engineer as to the best method of develop-
ing the power which the great rise and fall of the tide in the
rivers Severn and Avon afford, with the object of employing
it for the manufacture, so to speak, of the electricity re-
quired for lighting the city. It is manifest that that object
has only a collateral relation to the subject of this article. It
is, in fact, only the immediate inducement to undertake the
conservation of a power which may ultimately extend its
useful purpose in many other directions. Secondarily, how-
ever, electricity may be the agent by which power so obtained
may be transmitted, almost unreduced, to great distances in-
land from the source of supply; buttothatbranchof the mat-
ter we do not intend at present to devote ourselves, deeming
it sufficient to point out how extensive the use of electricity
may become in the future to aid in the full distribution of
that tidal force which is the proper subject of our article.
All who are acquainted with the rivers Severn and Avon and
the Bristol Channel will at once realize how powerful an
agent its tidal rise and fall of from tliirty-five feet to forty
feet must be. In such a case as this there can be but little
difficulty, we should say, in the construction and erection of
machinery by which the power of the water column may be
utilized. It must, however, be borne in nrind that the action
of the current engendered by a rising and falling tide is slow,
and that its power, if exerted on a limited mechanical area,
would therefore be hut small. Neither can the head of
water obtainable lie utilized after the methods common in
cases where the supply at the summit is constant and the
discharge free from back pressure. In the utilizatiou of the
tidal column the head will be constantly decreasing, and any
machinery erected mnst be capable of working under gradu-
ally decreasing head, and there will be besides no free dis-
charge at the base of the well in which the turbine must be
set.

A cursory examination of this subject discloses that there
are Considerable, though certainly not insuperable, difficul-
ties to be overcome in dealingwith theforce of the tide after
the manner customarily employed with hydraulic motors.
The chief consideration which must enter into any design
which has this object must be the means whereby the water
passed through any such machinery can be got rid of, for it
is manifest it cannot be returned to the source of supply im-
mediately on its quitting the machine upon giving motion to
which it has expended its power. But one course seems to
us to be open for overcoming this difficulty. We would
suggest that only a portion — say five-sixths — of the total
column should be employed, and that the discharge water
from the turbine should be led by pipes to some impounding
reservoir on waste land situate slightly above the level of
low tide, from which its redischarge into the river would be
insured at low water. Of course the direct use of head
water will only be possible in cases where the rise and fall
of tide is very considerable. Where it is so, it is not impos-
sible that the plan we have suggested might be carried out
without having to incur anything like a prohibitory ex-
pense.

: The obstacles to be overcome in cases of extreme range of
' tides are not, however, numerous, except under a few local
' adverse circumstances. Other and more difficult cases will
occur in localities where the tide is of too limited a rise and
fall to admit of static pressure being economically employed,
such as exist on all our sea shores and the majority of our
rivers. As regards the last named, it will be practicable in
some few cases to erect dams across these beds and utilize
the limited head so obtained in a variety of ways. But there
must be many rivers where this will be impracticable for
very cogent reasons; for such, and in all instances of sea-
tides, it seems to us that the old principle of the race will
have to be resorted to. On the risingof the tide, water might
be admitted through sluices to an impounding reservoir, the
lowest level of which must be above low water level, and
action would be imparted by it for a portion of the period of
influx to the reservoir, to undershot wheels or turbines in
the races or sluice channels. Atthe bottom of the tide efflux
would take place through the sluices, producing a reversed
action on the machines. It will be patent that, to secure any
considerable amount of power with the limited head of water
which would be available in such cases, a large volume must
be employed, and the necessary machinery would be large
and costly.

Our remarks will have shown that the subject divides
itself from natural causes into three distinct classes of opera-
tion: First, that of extreme range, where two or more turbines
might be used throughout, say, three-fourths the time of each
tidal rise and fall; secondly, that of rivers which permit of
the head waters being dammed back ; and thirdly, that of rivers
where the latter course is not practicable, and which have a
limited tidal range— in which class also may be included works
to utilize the tide of the sea on open shores. It is further to be
observed that in the majority of instances within these
islands, such as are those included in the first and third
classes, it will only be practicable to employ the tidal power
when the conformation of neighboring land enables it with-
out much artificial improvement for the purpose to receive
during the intervals of rise and fall a sufficient storage of
water, by the passage to and fro of which the required power
may be obtained; but we should say that there are many im-
portant towns on our shores, and by the side of our rivers,
where such land might be obtained within limited distance,
or'which might be fitted by excavations at a reasonable cost.

We have purposely refrained in these suggestive remarks
from going into the details involved in this important ques-
tion, and have simply touched upon the chief ideas which
occur to any one when thinking over a matter which may
become of great national importance.— The Engineer.

,»<» > «» .

The Removal of Scars and Cicatrices.

The cicatrices, scars, or marks left by various diseases,
burns, or wounds of divers kinds, are often less obstinately
permanent than is generally supposed, and from some facts
which have lately come under our notice we are inclined to
think that their prevention or removal in many cases may
be accomplished by some mild but effectual antiseptic.

Among the exemplifications of the efficacy of the formula
we are enabled to lay before our readers, is the case of a
gentleman of our acquaintance, whose face was so severely
burnt by the violent spurting of a quantity of melted lead
(owing to a workman having incautiously dropped a wet pipe
into it), that his eyes were only saved by pebble spectacles
from utter destruction.

At first, of course, carron oil was the sole application,
and as for weeks afterwards particles of the granulated metal
had literally to be dug out of the fiesh, a deeply-scarred coun-
tenance was naturally predicted by all, except the patient
himself. One mark of an almost imperceptible character
alone remained after the expiration of six months, owing,
as our friend says, to the whole face being bathed twice or
three times a day, as soon as the oil treatment could be dis-
continued, with a lotion of the simplest character, as is
readily seen by glancing at its constituents.

Lint soaked in the same solution and allowed to remain on
some little time will frequently mitigate the visible results
of smallpox, and we have known one case of ringworm
treated in this way to leave no scar whatever, while a sister
of the latter patient, who had had the same disease in a less-
er degree, but had not employed this lotion, still retains the
evidences of the fact.

The followingis a convenient formula: Borax, half ounce;
salicylic acid, 12 grains; glycerine, 3 drachms; rose water, 6
ounces. Make a lotion. — Magazine of Pharmacy.

Important Patent Decision.

Boston, Mass., February 23, 1882.
Judge Lowell, in the Circuit Court for the District of
Massachusetts, has to-day decided, in a case of the Seibert
Cylinder Oil Cup Company vs. the Phillips Lubricating
Company for infringement of the patent of the S. C. O. Cup
Co. for the method of lubricating the internal working sur-
faces of steam engines by oil fed in visible drops through
water contained in a transparent chamber (called the sight
feed, the Seibert Co. being the assignees of John Gates, of
Oregon), that the S. C. O. C. Co. are the true owners of said
patent; that theirs was the original and first invention, ear-
lier than that of Mr. Charles H. Parshall's, of Detroit; and
that parties using this feature in oil cups are infringers.
This question was an important one to be settled, because
the invention is of great utility and value and fast coming
into general use.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

March 18, 1882,]

jftitutifit %mmtm.

171

%ttj»CfS0 m& %m$ml

The Charge for Insertion under this head is One Dollar
a line for each insertion ; about eight wo-rds to a line.
Advertisements must be received at publication office
asearly as Thursday morning to appear in next issue.

Patents Sold, Leased. Correspondence solicited.
Kochendoerf er & Urie, 200 Broadway. New York.

1,200 lb. One Man Hand Hoist, with Brake, now ready.
Price, $30. Penfleld Block Co., Lockport, N. Y.

Wanted Manufactured in this and foreign countries,
on royalty, a small, new, and very useful invention. No
competition. Address Thomas McDonald, Austin, Texas.

Two Valuable Patents For Sale.— Air Compressor for
Ale or Beer, and Fluid Pressure Regulator. Working
machines ready to show. Both good, A 1. J. B. West 4
Rocnester, N. Y.

Wanted, after May 1, by a thoroughly competent Drop
Forger, a position as Superintendent, Foreman, or Con-
tractor. Address Reliable, P.#. Box 983, Meriden, Conn.

Wanted.— An experienced Mechanical Draughtsman
and Pattern Maker. Steady employment in a good place
for the right man. Address J. W. P., Box 773, New York.
Lightning Screw Plates and Labor-saving Tools, p. 158*

Send name and address to Cragin & Co., Philadel-
phia, Pa., for Cook Book free.

The Lehigh Valley Emery Wheel Co., Lehighton, Pa.,
sell a new stove Plate Grinder, with transverse motion;
and an Automatic Planer Knife Grinder, with a cup
wheel. Cuts and descriptions sent upon application.

Horizontal Engine, 20 in. cyl. by 48 in. stroke, for
sale new. Atlantic Steam Engine Works, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Abbe Bolt Forging Machines and Palmer Power Ham-
mers a specialty. S. C. Forsaith & Co., Manchester, N.H.

Machinery for Light Manufacturing, on hand and
built to order. E. E. Garvin & Co., 139 Center St., N. Y.

The Newark Filtering Co., of Newark, N. J , are fill-
ing orders from cities and manufacturers for their
" Multifold Filters."

To Stop Leaks in Boiler Tubes, use Quinn's Pat. Fer-
rules. Address S. M. Co., So. Newmarket, N. H.

Malleable and Gray Iron Castings to order, by Capital
City Malleable Iron Co., Albany, N. Y.
For Power & Economy, Alcott's Turbine, Mt.Holly, N. J.

Combination Roll and Ruhber Co., 27 Barclay St.,
N. Y. Wringer Rolls and Moulded Goods Specialties.

Send for Pamphlet of Compilation of Tests of Turbine
Water Wheels. Barber, Keiser & Co., Allentown, Pa.
Presses & Dies (fruit cans) AyarMach.Wks., Salem,N.J.

Latest Improved Diamond Drills. Send for circular
to M. C. Bullock, 80 to 88 Market St., Chicago, III.

Wood Working Machinery of Improved Design and
Workmanship. Cordesman, Egan & Co., Cincinnati, •.

'* How to Keep Boilers Clean," and other valuable in-
formation for steam users and engineers. Book of
sixty-four pages, published by Jas. F. Hotchkiss, 84
Jobn St.. New York, mailed free to any address.

Saw Mill Machinery. Stearns Mfg. Co. See p. 156.

Supplement Catalogue.— Persons in pursuit of infor-
mation on any special engineering, mechanical, or scien-
tific subject, can have catalogue of contents of the Sci-
entific AinieitiCAN Supplement sent to them free.
The Supplement contains lengthy articles embracing
the whole range of engineering, mechanics, and physi-
cal science. Address Munn & Co.. Publishers, New York.

Diamond Tools. J. Dickinson, 64 Nassau St., N. Y.

Split Pulleys at low prices, and of same strength and
appearance as Whole Pulleys. Yocom & Son's Shafting
Works, Drinker St., Philadelphia. Pa.

Malleable and Gray Iron Castings, all descriptions, by
Erie Malleable Iron Company, limited. Erie, Pa.
Presses & Dies. Ferracute Mach. Co., Bridgeton, N. J.

Corrugated Wrought Iron for Tires on Traction En-
gines, etc. Sole mf rs., H. Lloyd, Son & Co., Pittsb'g, Pa.
Brass & Copper in sheets, wire & blanks. See ad. p. 157.

The Improved Hydraulic Jacks. Punches, and Tube
Expanders. R. Dudgeon, 24 Columbia St., New York.

List 27.— Description of 3,000 new and second-hand
Machines, now ready for distribution. Send stamp for
same. S.C.Forsaitb &Co.,Manchester,N.H.,andN.Y.city.

Presses, Dies, Tools for working Sheet Metals, etc.
Fruit and other ('an Tools. E. W. Bliss. Brooklyn, N. Y.
Improved Skinner Portable Engine*. Erie, Pa.

Ajax Metals for Locomotive Boxes, Journal Bearings,
etc. Sold in ingots or castings. See adv.. p. 125.
Draughtsman's Sensitive Paper.T.H.McCollin,PhiIa.,Pa.

Tight and Slack Barrel machinery a speciaity. John
Greenwood & Co., Rocbester,N. Y. See illus. adv. p. 158.

Granville Hydraulic Elevator Co., 1193 B'way, N. Y.

Cullers for Teeth of Gear Wheels formed entirely by
machinery. The Pratt & Whitney Co. Hartford, Conn.

The Sweetland Chuck. See illus. adv., p. 143.

Machine Knives for Wood-working Machinery, Book
Binders, and Paper Mills. Also manufacturers of Solo-
man's Parallel Vise, Taylor. Stiles&Co.,Riegelsville.N.J.

For Mill Mach'y & Mill Furnishing, see illus. adv. p. 124.

For Shafts, Pulleys, or Hangers, call and see stock
kept at 79 Liberty St., N. Y. Wm. Sellers & Co.

Wm. Sellers & Co., Phila., have introduced a new
injector, worked by a single motion of a lever.

Common Sense Dry Kiln. Adapted todryingof allma-
terial where kiln, etc., drying houses are used. See p.157.

Supplee Steam Engine. See adv. p. 157.
Skinner's Chuck. Universal, and Eccentric. See p. 126

Electric Lights.— Thomson Houston System of the Arc
type. Estimates given and contracts made. 631 Arch,Phil.

C. B. Rogers & Co., Norwich, Conn.. Wood Working
Macblnery of every kind. See adv.. page 140.

The Universal Calculator.— A novel labor-saving ma-
chine for solving questions in arithmetic and mensura-
tion without mental labor. The most tedious probiems
solved in less than half a minute. Invaluable to engi-
neers, mechanics, and business men. Sent free for $1.
Send for circular. Address W. H. Wythe, Red Bank, N.J.

Ball's Variable Cut-off Engine. See adv., page 157.

The Brown Automatic Cut-off Engme; unexcelled for
workmanship, economy, and durability. Write for in-
formation. C. H. Brown & Co., Fitch-burg, Mass.

Paragon School Desk Extension Slides. See adv. p.158

Fire Brick, Tile,and Clay Retorts, all shapes. Borgner
& •'Brieu, M'f'rs, 23d St., above Race, Phila., Pa.

Peck's Patent Drop Press. See adv., page 156.

For best Portable Forges and Blacksmiths' Hand
Blowers, address Buffalo Forge Co., Buffalo, N. Y

HINTS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

No attention will be paid to communications unless
accompanied with the full name and address of the
writer.

Names and addresses of correspondents will not be
given to inquirers.

We renew our request that correspondents, in referring
to former answers or articles, will be kind enough to
name the date of the paper and the page, or the number
of the question.

Correspondents wliose inquiries do not appear after
a reasonable time should repeat them. If not then pub-
lished, they may conclude that, for good reasons, the
Editor declines them.

Persons desiring special information which is purely
of a personal character, and not of general interest,
should remit from $1 to $5, according to the subject,
as we cannot be expected to spend time and labor to
obtain such information without remuneration.

Any numbers of the Scientific American Supple-
ment referred to in these columns may be had at this
office. Price 10 cents each.

Correspondents sending samples of minerals, etc.,
for examination, should be careful to distinctly mark or
label their specimens so as to avoid error in their identi-
fication.

(1) J. W. asks: Could you tell me what
kind of a drill will go through chilled iron and highly
tempered homogeneous steel? Is chere any way of
softening this steel with fire or acids or alkalies, so
that you could cut it with a sharp edged tool? A.
Your drill must be quite thick, and ground to a flat
angle, so as not to have a thin edge; it must be of best
steel, made quite hard, and revolved slowly. You can
heat the articles to a dull red heat, and then allow them
to cool off very slowly while buried in charcoal dust.

(2) E. T. L. writes: Ad electrical cata-
logue says: ''Never put batteries of different kinds in
tbe same circuit." What is the reason of this? A. The
entire series of connected batteries has the quantity of
the weaker one only.

(3) A. C. inquires how to make the milk of
lime. A. Twenty ounces of well burned lime must be
carefully slaked in the usual manner. When slaked,
add the rest of the water; stir it well until all is dis-
solved; then pour off the milky liquor through a fine
sieve. The imperfectly burned stone will remain in
the sieve. Weigh this, and, by dissolving more lime in
another vessel, make up the dissolved lime to twenty
ounces to the gallon. If a little stronger it will not
signify; but it should not be weaker. The milk of
lime should be kept in a well bunged barrel. If kept
tightly stopped it will keep any reasonable length of
time, but if the air gets to it it absorbs carbonic acid
and becomes so weak as to be useless. Lime slaked
with water and kept from the action of the air will keep
its strength for any reasonable time.

(4) E. J. M. asks for a description of the
process of making gelatin from seaweed. A. It is
manufactured as follows: The sea-weed, called by the
native name of "tengusa,"is carefully washed and
afterward boiled, soastoformagluish decoction, which
is strained off and put into square boxes. When cool it
forms a stiff j?lly, which can easiiy be divided into
squares a foot in length. The manner in which the sur-
plus water is removed is very ingenious. The jelly
prisms are exposed in the open air during a cold night,
and allowed to freeze. During the day the sun melts
the water, whicb runs off, leaving behind what one
might term the skeleton of white, horny substance,
which is extremely light and easily dissolved in hot
water; when cooled, it again forms a stiff jelly. This
article can be applied to many purposes— for culinary
uses, for making bonbons and jellies, for clarifying
liquids, as a substitute for animal isinglass, for making
moulds used by the plaster of Paris workers, for hard-
ening the same material; in short, as a substitute for
all kinds of gelatines, over which it has the advantage
of producing a firmer jelly.

(5) O. asks how to oxidize gold, silver,
and brass. A. Paint over the parts to be oxidized
with a solution of chloride of platinum, then let it dry.
To make the chloride of platinum in solution dissolve
one drachm in two ounces of hot water.

. (6) G. B. K. asks: How can I remove iron
spots from clothing? A. The spots are colored blue
with yellow prussiate of potash; wash with caustic
soda, treat it with oxalic acid, afterward washing well
with water. Treated directly with oxalic acid, only
fresh spots disappear.

(7) "Microscopist" asks how to clean
diatoms for microscopic objects. A. Mr. James Neil,
of Cleveland, uses glycerin as an easy and efficacious
means of separating diatom shells from the foreign mat-
ter with which they are naturally mixed. He fills a two
ounce graduated measuring glass three-quarters full of
glycerin and water mixed in equal parts. The diatoms,
after being treated with acid and thoroughly washed,
are then shaken up in some pure water and poured
gently over the diluted glycerin. If carefully done, the
water and diatoms do not at first sink into the glycerin,
but gradually the diatoms sink through the water and
intotheglycerin preceding the light fiocculent matter
held in the water. After a few minutes, a pipe intro-
duced closed through tbe water and into the glycerin
will bring up remarkably clean diatoms, which are to be
afterward freed from glycerin by repeated washing ; .
and decanting.

(8) C. S. P. says: I am running a steam 1
grist and saw mill. The mill is 24 horse power; portable

boiler, 40 inches diameter 16 feet long, dome on top;
steam gauge attached to top of dome. In running with
sixty or seventy pounds of steam the finger of the gauge
vibrates from three to five pounds. Now, I would like
to know what causes it. A. Each charge of steam ad-
mitted to the engine practically enlarges the steam
room when the steam valve opens. The result is slight
fall of pressure, which is somewhat exaggerated by the
momentum of the pointer. This motion may generally
be stopped by partly closing the cock in the gauge pipe
or" by making a U bend in the gauge pipe, in which a
quantity of water should remain, serving the double
purpose of keeping the gauge spring cool and also pre-
venting the wear caused by the vfbration.

(9) B. D. P. asks: What is the fastest time
of anytrain in the United States andEurope? A. Sixty
miles per hour has been made for short time on many
roads both in this country and Europe. On the Inter-
colonial Road, New Brunswick, it is claimed that eighty-
four miles per hour has been made for a distance of
twenty miles. We do not think any faster speed than
this has been made on any road.

(10) D. F. H. writes: I have a four cell
Daniell battery, which is running an electric bell. H.
says if one cell will run the bell one month, four will
run it four months. I say it will not. Who is right? A.
It depends altogether upon the resistance of the bell
magnet and. upon the manner in which the battery cells
are connected up. If the cells are connected in series,
and if the bell magnet has a high resistance, four cells
will work longer thanone cell, but hardly four times as
long. If the bell magnet is of low resistance, and the
cells are connected for quantity, there would be little
difference in the timerequired to run down one or tour
cells.

(11) E. P. R. writes: I have a steam boiler
12 inches diameter outside,32 inches long, with 14 2-inch
tubes running through the entire length, which I use
upright. The boiler foams, so that it throws waterover
in the engine cylinder, making it pound. What is the
cause of it? The water is pure, such as we use for
drinking and cooking. A. Probably because you have
not steam capacity enough in the boiler. You can add

; a steam chamber to it and connect it with the boiler by
pipes.

(12) C. D. D. a«ks: If the light of the sun
should be suddenly blotted out, how long would we con-
tinue to see it? A. Eight minutes.

(13) L. J. asks: 1. What is the effect of
putting rings of rubber behind the diaphragm of the
phonograph described in Supplement, No. 13'-J. vol. vi.,
page2112? A. It limits the vibrations of diaphragmand
prevents too great movement of the needle.

(14) P. M. V. asks: Can I, in making an
electro-magnet, screw the two soft iron cores directly
into a base of wood, or will they have to have a metallic
connection; and if so, would mere coniact be enough?
A. You will require a metallic connection, which must
be of iron or other magnetic metal. Mere contact will
do, if sufficiently perfect.

(15) R. H. S. writes: I desire to heat an in-
closure, 4 feet square, moderately, say from 70° to 90°
Fan., if possible by an electric current. Can '.tbe done —
and if so, how? A. It can be done by running the cur-
rent through a wire of the proper size and length. We
recommend a current sufficient to produce a small arc
light connected with about 200 feet of No. 16 naked cop-
per wire, arranged within the chamber so that the whole
or a part of it may be thrown iuto the circuit. The
convolutions of wire should have air spaces between
and they should nowhere touch each other, neither
should they come into contact with anything combusti-
ble.

(16) A. J. S. writes: I have a telegraph
line 200 feet long of No. 18 insulated copper with five
6x8 gravity batteries for my return wire or ground wire.
At one end it is attached to a lead water pipe; at the
other end to an iron pipe driven about fi ve feet into the
ground. All my connections are perfect, but it will not
work (it will if I use a double wire). Can you tell me
through your paper what is the matter? A. Your
ground is insufficient. Instead of driving a pipe five
feetin the earth, you should dig a trench deep enough
to reach earth that is always moist, and bury in it a
copper plate having ten to fifteen square 1feet of surface, '
and connect this with your ground wire. Or you may
fill this trench for a foot or so with finely broken coke,
burying a large sized copper wire in the coke. Of course
connection with the gas or water pipe— if you have
them— will do. The connections should be soldered.

(17) J. F. B. asks: 1. What will be the
size of a link for a reverse engine whose stroke is three
inches and the distance from the outside of the ports is
two inches, andfrom the inside of the ports is one inch
and a half? And what is the rule for finding the size of
the link? A. The best way to get the size of the link
is to take actual dimensions of one in use, and reduce
it, in the proportion of openings and travel of valve.
2. How do you find the throw of the eccentric? A. The
throw is equal to twice the distance from the center of
the shaft to the center from which the exterior of the
eccentric is struck. 3. What is " kaolin," advertised
in No. 4, page 52, in the treatment of comedones? A.
Kaolin is the kind of pure clay used in making porce-
lain.

Minerals, etc. — Specimens have been re-
ceived from the following correspondents, and
examined, with the results stated:

J.B. B.— The white powder is carbonate of lead.

iOFFICIAL.]

INDEX OF INVENTIONS

FOB WHICH

Letters Patent of tile United States were
Granted in tlie Week Ending;

February 21. 1882.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED,

On a Buncher for Hay and Straw. By J. C. M.

On Lubricants. By h. M. A.

Rapid Transit on Water. By D. B.

On Aerial Navigation By O- F.

On the Conversion of Thermometric Scales. By D
J. K.

What Causes a Belt to Run on the High Side of a
Pulley? ByC.D.

AND EACH BEARING THAT HATE.

[Those marked Cr) are reissued patents.]

A printed copy of the specification and drawing of any
patent in the annexed list, also of any patent issued
since 1866, will be furnished from this office for 25 cents.
In ordering please state the number and date of the
patent desired and remit to Munn & Co., 261 Broad-
way, corner of Warren Street. New York city. We
also furnisb copies of patents granted prior to 1866?
but at increased cost as the specifications not being
printed, must be copied by hand.

Air compressor, hydraulic, W. A. Babcock 253,830

Air cooling and purifying apparatus, S. Whitnum 254,081

Air motor, compressed, R. S. Tice 254,072

Alarm. See Millstone alarm.

Amalgam of gold and silver containing base me-
tals, refining. E. N. Riotte

Amalgamating apparatus, A. D. Clarke

Animal trap, A. Andre 1

Banjo, E. J. (Jubley

Basin and sink trap. C. H. Denison

Basket, wicker. J. G. Miller

Bed bottom, D. D. Wyman

Bed, folding cabinet, S. H. Witmer

Bell, G. W.'Goff

Belt shipper, Upham & Scovill

Belt, waist, P. Sternheimer

Bench. See Wire rope splicing bench.

Bending machine. J. -McDowell

| Block, see Pulley block.

i Boat. See Canal boat.

I Root, R. Thompson

Boot and shoe heel, TI. E. Clinton

Boots and shoes, manufacture of. T. Laycock. . .

Boring machine, E D. Davis

Bouquet support and former, F. D. Hake

Box. See Spool show box.

Boxes and dishes, machinery for foroiing and
fastening, L. Carpenter .

Brace. See Tension brace.

Brake. See Wagon brake.

Brush for cleaning milk cans, J. K. Odell

Bung, racking, J. S. Lipps..

Butter worker. G. A Blanchard

Button fastener, J. Weidenmann

Button, sleeve, F. F_ Bioren

Button, sleeve or other, S. Moore. v

Calendar, T. H. Hovenden 254,014,

Camera. See Solar camera.

Canal boat, J. Baker

(jane and umbrella, combined, G. T. Smith

Car coupling, G. Butler

Car coupling, L. W. Gates

Car coupling, E. Glover

Car coupling. E. H. Janney

Car coupling, E. Lasher

Car coupling, R. N. McKay

Car coupling, G. T. •sborne

Car.railway, A. Estrade

Car seat, E. T.Starr

Cars, apparatus for lighting the platforms a»d

steps of railway, W. E. Chamberlain

Card and domino combined, playing, B. A. Shel-
don. .

Card, playing, S- L. Cohen

Castingflask, J K-Dimmick

Chain, ornamental, R. Barker.

Chain wheel, W D. Ewart

Chair. See Child's chair. Photographer's chair.

Chair, J. Green

Chasing and engraving machine. L. T. Carr

Cheese draining tabie and mould, Blair & wilder.

Child's chair and carriage, J. W. Kenna..

Chinoline. manufacture of, Pickhardt & Ende-

mann.

Churn, Minot & Rhoades

Churn. M. C. Wallace

Cigarand cigarette wrapper, W B. Carpenter —

Cigarette, W. Salomon ,

Cleaner. See Flue cleaner.

Clock spriDgR, machine for rolling blanks for, W,

Barnes

Clocks, ornamental attachment for, A. C. San-
ford

Clothes strainer. A. M. Dennison.

Clutch, I. L. Roberts

Coal, ores, etc., device for handling, A. Lawton...
Coat hook, pocket, R. Onderdonk

253,888
253,843
253.907
253.8 19
253/52
254. C34
254 084
253,903
254,00 '
253,900
253,952

253.93*

251,07
253,«U
254,102
2 53,9 13
254.006

253,884
253.932
254,088
253,901
254.087
254,035
254,015

253,9*5
253.897
253,838
253,998
254,001
254,093
254.028
254,033
253,885
253,993
253,951

254,091

253,895
253.910
253,&'?4
253,968
253,994

253.921
254.090
253835
254,023

254,098
253,879
253.961
253-841

253,892

Commode, J. Bennor

Commode, H. P. Stichter

Compass, transit, A. VV. filkins

Cooking apparatus. E. Robinson

Corn, husker, hand, A. W. Brinkerhoff

Corset, I. Strouse

Counter, store, W. J. Conrad

Coupling. See Car coupling. Pipe coupling. Shaft
coupling. Thiil coupling.

Crank paddle* J. I. Lengsfleld

Cultivator, J. H. Jones ,

Cup. See Grain drill seed cup.

Cut-off valve gear, automatic, J. W. Morgan

Cut-off valve gear. M. T. Stevens...

Detecter. See Time detecter.

Die. See Screw cutting die.

Digger. See Post hole digger.

Distillation, apparatus for fractional, E. F. Diet-
erichs —

Ditching and tile laying machine, W. Wilson

Door spring. De Long & Schroder.

Dowel pins, machine for milking, E. Gager

Dress cutting and fitting mould, K. Walker

Drill. See Grain drill.

Drillingmachine, G. W. Longman

Drum, beating A. Sires

Dyestuflfor coloring matter, J. H. Stebbins, Jr

254,064,

Egg pail. Hill & Simpson

Electric machine, dynamo, W. E. Sawyer

Electric wires, safety device for, S. .\f . Plush

Electro magnetic relay. C A. Randall

Elevator. See Hod elevator. Hydraulic elevator.

Emery grinding and polishing wheel, elastic cen-
ter, M. Hofstad

Engine, s.ee Rotary engine.

Eraser, blackboard. C. M. Lothrop

Evaporating and cooling apparatus, A. Gontard. .

254.101

253.947
253,989
253,889
253.928
253.942

253,832
253.954
253,856
254.050
253,9-70
254,067
253,981

254.030

253.869

25;i,938
254,066

253,990
254.1 i&i
253,851
253.997
254.074

254,031
254,060

254 065
252,866
250,056
254 099
254,045

25-1,011

254,094
354,003

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

172

Sf tunixtu %mmau.

[March i8, 1882.

Excavating earth in trenches, machine for, C. A.

Ferry

Excavator and conveyer, dearth, C. A. & F. D,

Smith

Exploderfor blasting cartridges, J. C L Schrader..

Explosives, tester for, G. S. Dean.... .... .....

Eyeglass frame. F. Terstegen

Fan, automatic Selden & Duckett.

Fanning mill. F. M. Bissell

Farm gate, J. J. Johnston

Faucet, measuring, J. C. Norris

Feather pillows, bolsters, etc., manufacture of,

H. Berger ,

Feed water heater, E. Reynolds

Felting machine, A. Pelisse ,

Fertilizer, £. Brown

Fertilizer, I. Elsasser

File, 0. M. Fairbanks

Fire alarm system, non-interfering, M. G. Crane. .

Fire annlhilator, I. Kitsee.

Flask. See Casting flask.

Flour and middlings, process of and machinery

for gradual raduction of grain to, N. \V. Holt.
Flour mills, roller for gradual reduction, W. M.

Mills

Flower stand, B„ H. Messier

Flue cleaner, J. M Hartman

Forges, Are pot for blacksmith's, J, Powers

Fork, See Hay fork.

Frame. See Eyeglass frame. Window frame.
Furnace. See Reheating furnace, Smoke con-
suming furnace.

Furnace, N.I. Newcomb

Gas heating apparatus, S. Darling

Gate. See Farm gate.

Gate J. b\ Coppock

Gate, W H.Tupper

Gate, hanger. W. G. Alexander

Gear, spiral bevel, U. Haskin : . .

Glove, R. D. Burr

Gloves, gaiters, etc., fastener for, A. Ropf en

Governor valve. Green & Turner

Grain drill, G. W., J. R., & S. B. Rude

Grain drill seed cup, J. King

Grain saving attachment for separators, N. Mc-
Lean

Grate, J. F. Montgomery

Grate, fireplace, Tj. H. Smith

fiun, machine, B. B. Hotchkiss

Hame. B. S. Seaman

Hanger. See Gate hanger.

Harness hook, J. J.Wilkins (r)

Harrow, G.Jackson

Harrow, A. J. Stewart (r)

Hay and straw stacker, N. Newsom

Hayfork, grapple, G. Kundle

Heater. See Feed water heater. ;Oil heater.

Wheat heater.

Heater, P. Brecher

Hedge, plashed, W. 5Toung

Hod elevator. J. Powers

Hoisting machine drum. F. Murgatroy £

Holder. See Pen holder. Type and space holder.
Hook. See Coat hook. Harness hook: Snap

hook. Wardrobe hook.

J lorseshoe, W. Leech

Hose nozzle, F. W. Robertshaw

ilydraullc elevator. C* A. Chandler....

Icecream freezer, C. L. Dexter (r)

Indicator. See Station indicator.
Iron. See Sad iron.
Jack See Lifting jack.

Kneading and mixing machine, P. Pflelderer

Knife. See Pocket knife.

Knitting loom, circular weft thread, N. W. West-

cott

Knitting machine, H. Gtinther

Knitting machine needle, F. E. Gilford

Knob attachment. J. A. Giese

Knob attachment, W. H. Taylor

Knob, door, J. Bardsley

Laces, etc., machine .for purling manufactured,

O. L. Deschamps....

Ladder, step. G. King

Lamp, electric. H. S. Maxim

Lamp, electric, G. w. Sawyer

Lamp, electric, E. Thomson

Lamp fixture, extension, A. II. Jones ...

Lantern for electric and other lights, L. Stieringer

Lantern, hand, L Henkle

Latch, gate. G. E. Chandler

Latch, sliding gate. I. S. Sherwin

Lifting jack, J. Weathers

Lifting jack, H. J. Wilson

Lock. See Reel lock. Seal lock.

Looms, back roll and support therefor for, L. J.

Knowles

Main for conveying fluids, J. Brady

Malt kiln grain distributer, W. Toepf er

Medical compound, Pickhardt & Endemann

254,096,

Metals, bath for treating, J, Mensdorf

Middlings purifier. T. B. Osborne 254,038,

Mill. See Fanning mill. Roller mill. "Windmill.

Milling machine, A. H. Campbell

Millstone alarm. W. Lauhoff ,

Mould. See Dress cutting and fitting mould.
M otor. See Air motor.

Motor, A.Iske 253,867

Motor.A.& A.Iske.... 253,8t)8

Negatives, apparatus for retouching, T. N. Berger 253,P34

Oil heater, coal, J. S. Rowland 254.052

Oils, liquid drier for, A . W. iYatt (r) 10040

Or«an action, pneumatic, Reiter & Sander 254,046

Organ, reed. A. Newell 253,882

Organette, mechanical, P. J. Duggan 253,855

Ornamenting metals, H. Wright 253.905

Oven, bread raising, L H. Morgan 254,095

Overalls. Frank & Galligan . . 254.092

Paint for roofing, etc.. G. J. Cline 253,978

Paints and oils, composition for drying, A. W.

Pratt (r) 10,039

Paper cutting machine, K. Binns 253,967

Paper, etc. machine for cleaning. F. J. Emmerich 253,982

Paper, waterproof, W B. Carpenter 253,840

Pen holder, fountain, W.W.Stewart 253.953

Photographer's chair, J. A. Anderson 253,829

Pianoforte players, legato monitor for, S. A.

Emery 253.857

Pipe, See stovepipe.

Pipe coupling . L. De Naeyer 253,988

Planter, corn, A. Runstetler 254,054

Plumber's trap, P. Connolly 253,845

Pocket knife, J. M. Palmer 253,887

Post hole! digger, J. Lee 253,929

Preserving food, compound for, T. L. Corwin 253.983

Printer's composing rule, L. K. Johnson 254,018

Propeller, chain. J. M. Rosse 254,05t

Propulsion of ships J. B. Root 253,946

Pulley band, elastic, A.E. Brlggs 254,089

Pulley block, G. A. Ford 253,859

Pump, J. A. HeydriCk 251,010

253.995

253,896
253.893
253,914
254,070
253.894
253,968
254,020
254,036

253,833

254,047
254,041
253,971
253,991

253,858
253,847
254,0^6

254,012

253,878
253.877
253,862
253,944

253,939
253,850

253,982
254.073
253,828
253.863
253,972
254,013
254,001
253,891
253,926

253.936
253,880
254,062
253,924
253.949

10,043
254,017

10.041
253,940
254,053

253.9G9

254,085
253,943

253,881

253.930

254,045
253,842

10,038

254,042

254,079
253,922
253,860
254.000
253,956
253,831

253,915

253,925
254,032
254,055
253,958
254,022
253,955
253,865
253,976
254,058
254,076
253,964

254,027
253.938
253,960

254,097
253.937
253,039

253.974
253,873

Pump, rotary, J. M.Taylor 254,069

Rag washing machine for rag and paper washing

engines, J. Tyler (r) 10,042

Railway point and manner of working the same.

Whitehead & Dodd 254.080

Railway switch, A. Harley 254,008

Railway switch stand, Greenwood & Cowell 253,861

Reclining chair, folding, A. B. Upham 253,899

Reel lock, L. A. Kief er 254,025

Refrigerator, C. Boss .' 253,836

Refrigerator car, H. McCray 253,933

Register. See Telephone call register. Watch-
man's electric register.

Reheating furnace, J. F. Duffy 258,916

Reversible seat, E. B. Bridgman 253,837

Roller mill, H. N. Pomeroy 254,043

Rolling finger rings mechanism for, C. R. Smith. 253,950

Rotary engine, H. W. Potter 254,044

Saddle bags, medical, G. H. Carpenter 253 975

Sad iron and flu ter combined, 1. 1. Bush 253,973

Screw cutting die, W. D. Forbes 253,996

Screw cutting machine, J. Delker 253,987

Screw heads, machine for grinding or polishing,

C. D. Rogers 253,890

Seal lock, L. M. Junkin . . . , 253,870

Seat. See Oar seat. Reversible seat.

Seed gatherer, clover, J. P. Rimel 254.109

Sewing machine shuttle, W. H. Keeler 253,871

Sewing machine shuttle, w. R. Parsons 254,t"40

Shaft coupling, C. C. Klein . 253,?72

Shears for cutting sheet metal, separator, for

squaring, \V. R. Dannals. 253.986

Sieve cleaning attachment, J. Harvey. 254,009

Sirup, composite corn. Giesecke & Hamlin 253,920

Sirup, manufacturing corn, Giesecke & Hamlin... 253,919

Slate, C. B. * J. M. Hays 253.864

Smoke consumer, C. Olson 254,037

Smoke consuming furnace, J.J. Hall 254,007

Snap hook, F. C. Wright 253 904

Solar camera, B. Titcomh 253,959

Sole edge trimmer and trimming tool grinder,

combined, S. > y . Corthell 253,911

Spark arrester, G. B. .Nichols 253,883

Spool show box, R. Kerr 254,024

Spring. See Door spring.

Spring washer, E. Over 253,886

Square hlades, clamp for try, U\H. Richards 253,945

Stand. See Flower stand. Railway switch stand.
Staple for suspending papers, etc., ring, G. W.

McGill . 253,876

Starch , manufacturing, H. Hamlin 253.923

Starch table, C. Lautz 254,029

Starch table. M.J.Stark 254,063

Station indicator, H. J. Wenzel 254,078

Steam, apparatus for superheating, R. Lehmann. 253,931
Steam, etc., apparatus for supplying cities with,

C. E. Emery 253,917

Steam trap, N. Curtis 253,984, 253,9S5

Stovepipe, E. Robinson 254,049

Switch. See Railway switch. Telephone switch.
Table. See Cheese draining table. Starch table.

Tag.marking, S. D. Shattuck 251,057

Tally, grain, J. Griffith 254,305

Telegraphic apparatus. Thompson & Selden . . 253.057

Telegraphic receiving instrument, G. Smith 254,061

Telephone call register, Denver & Sawyer 253.853

Telephone station apparatus, G. W. Coy 253,9)2

Telephone switch, automatic, J. B. Odell 253.U41

Telephone transmitter, carbon, <2. D. Clarke 253,977

Tension brace, A. Lawson . . ^ 253.927

Tr&Il coupling, E. Boxie ....^: 254,016

Thrashing machine, MacDon^ld & Sly 253,874

Time detecter, watchman's, H. J. Wenzel . 253.963

Tire tightener, J. T. McEnnaney 253,935

Tongue support, W. B. McFail 253,875

Tongue support, wagon, J. W. Wetmore 253,902

Torpedoes, apparatus for propelling, W. F. John-
ston 254,021

Toy wheelbarrow, J. A. Crandall 253,846

Trap. See Animal trap. Basin and sink trap.
Plumber's trap. Steam trap.

Tray for holding fruit cans, J. Taylor 253,898

Trimmer. See Sole edge trimmer.

Truck,T. J.Scarff.... 253,948

Type and space holder, L. K. Johnson 254,019

Valve. See Governor valve.

Valve, steam actuated, A. J Simmons 254,059

Velocipede, G. Wiard 254,082

Wagon brake. R. E. Zellers 253,906

Wagon, cotton picker 's,C. P. Collins 253,980

Wardrobe hook. W. G. Foster. 253,1*18

Washer. See Spring washer.

Watch train plate, J. H. Gerry 253,999

Watchman's electric register, G. G. Weitz 253.9G2

Water closet, A. G.Alexander 254,086

Weaver's harness, machine for making, J. H.

Crowell 253,848

Wheat heater, J. E. Welch 254,077

Wheel. See cllain wheel.

Windmill, WarwicK & Westaway 254,075

Window frame, W. Sturm 254,068

Wire rope splicing bench, II. Channon 253.909

Wire screen work, A. Collins 253,979

DESIGNS.
Aquarium and stand for same, C. F. Klepper.. ... 12,772

Bottle, caster. J. M.Watson 12,791

Carpet, T. Onslow 12,776 to 12,782

Carpet, G. W. Pugh 12,783

Carpet, S. Smith 12.784

Carpet, TV J. Stearns 12,785, 12.786

Corset, P. T. Hertzog 12,773

Curtain band. B. Dreyfus 12,788

Finger rins, W. P. Sinnock 12,790

Paper cap or toy pistol, H. S. Lockwood 12.739

Pencil stamp, A. H. Rogers 12,787

Watch case,E. F Margot 12,774, 12,775

TRADE MARKS.

Ale, ginger, H. S. Evans 9,105

Bate for tanner's use, W. C. Tiffany 9,128

Bitters, hops and malt, G. i\ Glazier 9,135

Canned fruits and vegetables, except canned corn,

A. W. Kriete. . 9,139

Chains, ornamental jewelry, S. & B.Lederer 9.U5

Cigars, cheroots, and cigarettes. Kinney Tobacco

Company 9.113

Cotton, linen, or other fabrics, E. M. French 9,107

Hair, composition or wash for dressing, M. E.

Johnson ,, 9,112

Hair goods, human. J. R Krause 9.114

Hardware, builders', agricultural, and general, T.

Hessenbruch 9.137

Liniments, Gish & Garner 9,108

Liquid dressing. Morse & Gilman 9,U6

Medical preparation, certain. G.G. Green.. 9,136

Medical preparations, certain. L. M. Green 9,109, 9,110

Medicinal preparations certain, S. Titcomb 9,129

Medicine. tocological, N. B.Peraza 9,124

Pencils, biaek lead. Eagle Pencil Company 9,103

Pencils, lead, Ea«le Pencil Company .9,104, 9 140

Ranges, cooking, Janes & Kirtland.... 9,111

Soap, J. B. Williams & Co.. 9,130 to 9.133

Starch, laundry. American Starch Company. ... 9.134

Tobacco pipes, Re jail & Becker 9,125

Watches, A. Schwoh 9,136, 9,127

Whisky, Her & Co 9,138

Wine, champagne, L. H. L. R Olry 9,117 to 9,123

Wine, claret, Eschenauer & Co 9, 106

EnglisU Patents Issued to Americans.

From February 7 to February 10, 1882, inclusive.
Boilers manufacture of, J. S. Williams, Riverton, N/J,
Coffer dams, W. P. Kirkham, New York city.
Electric lamp. W. M. Thomas, Cincinnati, O.
Furnaces, A. C. Felton. Warwick, Mass.
Middlings purifier, Electric Purifying Company, New

Haven, Conn.
Presses, hay, P. C. Hudson, Ft. Dodge, Iowa.
Reeds for musical instruments. M. Bray, Boston, Mass.
Shaft couplings F. O. Deschamps et at, U S. A.
Stoppers for bottles, C. Renauld et at., New_3(ork city.

Inside Page, each insertion --- 7;> cents a line.

Back Page, each insertion - - - $1.00 a line.
(About eight words to a line.)

Engravings may head advertisements at the same rate
per line, by measurement, as the letter press. Adver-
tisements must be received at publication office ms early
ms Thursday morning to appear in next issv£.

Practical portable
leasure IN ■ hotography.

-A.JXTY ONE

Can obtain Representations of Mechanical Devices,
Copies of Plans and Specifications, Pictures of Build-
ings, Scenery, and Animated Objects, by using
our potable photographic outfits.
Prices, from $10 upward. Descriptive Price-lists free.
Read *■ How to Make Pictures " for instruction. Price,
60 cents por copy.

SCOVILL MANUFACTURING CO.,

419 and 4'21 Broome Street, New York.

W. IRVING ADAMS, Agent.

*£ Si, •HAPPT* ,,,11

iSEWING a— ==^

EWjfi>ME$EWING — -„
ir™„ 'iT eyVTACHINECO,

P30 Union SmiaheN.y: Chicago, ill,

ORANGE MASS. OR ATLANTA 6A.^

Reliable Live Canvassing Agents

Wantedforthreeof the best advertised and quick-
est selling articles of daily use. No risk. Address
O. A. SCOTT. 842 Broadway, New York.

References: Scientific American.

BARNES 7

Patent Foot and Steam Power
Machinery. Complete outfits for
Actua l Workshop Business. Lathes
for Wood or Metal. Circular Saws,
Scroll Saws, Formers, Mortisers,
Tenoners, etc., etc. Machines on
trial if desired. Descriptive Cata-
logue and Price List Free.

W. F. & JOHN BARNES,

ltockford, III.
No. 1909 Main St.

RATIONAL /ESTHETICS Llg^d!

are represented in Demorest's Monthly.

to be had of all Booksellers and News-
dealers. W. Jennings Demorest, Pub-
lisher, 17 East 14th Street, New York.

A^J Ty I I number is a gem.
wT t\. I lm Price, twenty cents ;

Engines and Boilers For Sale Cheap.

New and Second-hand, of all sizes.
YOUNG & JLOCK.E, - Titusville, Penn.

Hayden's Modern School for Guitar.
I With over 100 Songs & Pieces. 75 Cts.
''Circulars free. W. U Hayden, Boston. Mass.

. <ewGoods never before introducedfor II pPM 1 *-*.
Terms that can't be boat. Kew60 pa *e ftlXCH I O
Catalogue free. NASON & Co., Ill Nassau st.,New York

A Valuable Cement.

Philadelphia, Feb. ?, 1882. Considerable interest
ha? been awakened here amone manufacturers by the
discovery that the article of cement, introduced Into
this country during the Centennial, known as Van
Stan's Stratena. is rapidly becoming a very important
factor in tbe manufacturing interests of the Unired
States. Aside from the immense sale it ha& had with
the general public for the purpose of repairing all kinds
of broken articles, the fact that numerous manufactur-
ing interests depend upon it almost ennrely for certain
purposes, excites considerable comment. The promi-
nent Billiard Table manufacturers are now usingit for
cementing tips on biiliard cues. Manufacturing Jewel-
ers, makers of Artificial Flowers Bonnet Frames. Um-
brellas, Parasols, Csnes, Pocket Books, Fancy Leather
Goods, Tobacco Pipes, workers m Light Metal and
Bone Goods, are using it to the exclusion of other ad-
hesives. A* usual, numerous worthless Imitations are
being offered un-iei the name of the genuine, and several
criminal prosecutions have been the result The de-
mand for small bottles is very large, and few first-class
druggists s'ationers. or crockery dealers in the United
States but keep the cement for sale, and consider it a
staple article.

WOOD WORKING MACHINERY.

r-T?hPy TENONING,CARV/NG, ^^MSp*
t=? MACHINES. -.v/t*

BAND & SCROLL SAWS

SU "rlSS^ ( S R " n

■ CINCINNATI, O. U.S.A.

PERPETUAL AND CHANGEABLE CALENDAR,

for the days of the week, month, and year. (Trade sup-
plied.) bend for price list. J. BATH, Patentee,

79 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, HJ. Y.

WATER ELEVATOR, OR STEAM JET POIP,

Has no valves or moving parts.
With 60 lb. steam pressure will
elevate hot or cold water 50 ft.,
will force water through pipes
an# hose for fire purposes. Cnemp-
etst and Best Pump Made. A VA
1^ in. pump, price $13, will throw a %
|p= stream of water 40 ft.; 1% in.
— pump, price $20, at 50 lb. pressure,
ft. per hour. All pumps guaranteed.
State for what purpose wanted and send for prices, etc.
VAN DUZEN & TIFT, Cincinnati, Oliio.

elevates 3,000 gal

THE DUPLEX INJECTOR.

The constantly increasing demand for this Boiler
Feeder proves its superiority over other machines now
in use. Send for illustrated circular and price list.

Manufactured by J AMES JENKS. Detroit, Jlicn.

FEED VWTE Ri^
^"---Purifier <i

FOR STEAM BOILERS
U.S. & FOREIGN PATENTS

PATENTS SOLD IS

Joint Stock Companies formed. Stock placed for Incor-
porated Companies. Good investments always on hand.
Highest references given. Circulars free. E. L. EICH
AEDS & CO- Brokers. 733 Beoadway. New York.

VACCINATION OF ANIMALS.— By Prop.

Pasteur. An address before the International Medical
Congress, bringing to notice a new advance in the study
of Microa&el&s applied to the prevention of .transmissible
diseases in animals. Contained in Scientific Amehi-
can Sur-pi.EMKNT, No. 300. Price 10 cents. To behad
at this office and from all newsdealers.

pennock's patent Road Machine.

i^'" ES SEI<T0NTRIAL.^

Manufacturers of "Matchless" Dump-Scraper.
S. PENNOCK & SONS' CO.,

Kennett Square, Pa., and ''"ort Wayne, Ind.

MINERAL WOOL.

This Fireproof and indestructible material success-
fully prevents loss of heat by radiation, beeps frost from
water pipes, deadens sound, checks spread of tire in walls,
partitions, floors of dwellings. 25 cts. per cubic foot.
U. S. MINERAL WOOL CO., 16 Cortlandt St., N. Y.

'.NEW,Y0RKaiEMCJL WORKS-

Steel t<G

^k LETTERS

Steel

^Nassau sT.rcfr

WANTED.— A GOOD SALESMAN WHO

thoroughly understands Wood and Iron Working Ma-
chinery and Supplies. Must be first-class. Address

J. H. KERRICK & CO-. MinneapoHs, Minn.

OPIUM

MORPHINE HABIT.

No pay till enred. Ten
years established, 1,000
cured. State' case. Dr.
Marsh, Quincy, Mich.

C AUIC How to straighten and gum all kinds. Address
OM If 9 A.E. WILBUR, Sehenevus, Otsego Co., N. Y.

flew and Valuable Oik for Loose Pulleys.

Its use on Loose Pulleys will prove
it to be efficient., keeping the pulley
oiled from three to four weeks with
one flEling. Price from 25c. to V5c.
each. Samplesentbymailon receipt
of price. Give diameter and speed
of pulley. Send for catalogue, etc.
Van Duzicn & Tift, Cincinnati, O.

Mention this paper.

PATENTS.

MESSRS. MUNN & CO., in connection with the pub-
lication of the Scientific American, continue to ex-
amine Improvements, and to act as Solicitors of Patents
for Inventors.

In this line of business' they have had thirty-five
years' experience, and now have vnequaled facilities for
the preparation of Patent Drawings, Specifications, and
the prosecution- of Applications for Patents in the
United States, Canada, and Foreign Countries. Messrs.
Mmra & Co. also attend to the preparation of Caveats,
Copyrights for Books. Labels, Reissues, Assignments,
and Reports on Infringements of Patents. All business,
intrusted to them is done with special Care and prompt-
ness, on very reasonable terms.

A pamphlet sent free of charge, on application, con-
taining full information about Patents and how to pre-
cure them; directions concerning Labels, Copyrights,
Designs, Patents, Appeals, Reissues, Infringements, As-
signments, Rejected Cases, Hints on the Sale of Pa-
tents, etc

We also send, free of charge, a Synopsis of Foreign
Patent Laws, showing the cost and method of securing
patents in all the principal countries of the worid.
MUNN & CO., Solicitors of Patents,
261 Broadway, New York.

BRANCH OFFICE -Corner of F and 7th Streets,
Washington, D, C,

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

March 18, 1882.]

gtitntxiu Jiwmcm

173

VALUABLE BOOKS

ON

PAINTS, PAINTING-,

THE MAMFACTERE OF VARNISHES,

Varalsling. Coacl Painting, and Coacn Building.

Arlot.— A Complete Guide for Coach Painters. From
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Callinghaia.— Sign Writing and Glass Embossing. A
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Davids on.— A Practical M anual of House Painting,
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Painter, Gilder , and Varnisher's Companion. Contain-
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Sixteenth Edition. Revised, with an Appendix:. Con-
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Riffauit, Vergnaud.andToussaint— A Practical Treatise
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Ware.— The Coach Maker's Illustrate* Han* Book.

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B3F° The above, or any of our Books, sent by mail, free
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L THE MEDARTPATENT WROUGHT RIM PULLEY •:•

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D. T?risbie & Co., 123 North 4th St., Philadelphia. Pa.

THE SCOVILL

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SIMPLE, RELIABLE, DURABLE,

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Send for descriptive circulars and price lists to

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Chamfering. Howeling,
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BARREL, KEG,

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AND Fan and Stave Jointer.

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NEW.r-f ORNAMENTAL TREES

FR^-fc^ SHRUBS, ROSES. 1882.

Besides the largest and most complete general
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RUPTURE

cured without an operation or the injury trusses inflict
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PATENT QUICK

Adjustable Stroke

8HAPEES

, Can b e Changed while in Motion.
E. GOULD & EBEEHARDT,

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Hard Rubber.

Manufactured in any desired form by

THE RUBBER COMB AND JEWELRY CO.,

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Estimates furnished and correspondence solicited.

1 flK Elegant yewStyleGhromoCards,namein Gold and
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A WONDERFUL BOOK:

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VIOLIN OUTFITS

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70

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A LARGER PUMP AND CASING IN PROPORTION
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This Packing is made in lengths of about 20 feet, and of all sizes from $£ to 2 inches square.

JOHN H. CHEEVER, Trens. NEW YORK BELTING & PACKING CO.,29ParkEow,NewYork.

SPECIAL NOTICE.— Owing to the recent great lire in the " World" Building* our office has
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MANUFACTURERS OF

WIRE ROPE, BRIDGE CABLES, SHIP RIGGING,

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Office and Works t

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! Senator J
price Hst.y

Office and Warehouse:
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THE PORTER-ALLEN

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' ADDRESS

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FOR SECOND-HAND ENGINES,

Address HARRIS IRON WORKS, Tltusville, Pa.

4.

RELIABLE"

.Engines a complete success.
Prices still 40 per cent, below
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Address, for circular.
HEA 1-1) & MORRIS, formerly Healb, SiSCO & Co.,
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KID3SOTJT & CO., 10 Barclay St., New York.

CLARK'S RUBBER WHEELS.

This Wheel is unrivaled for durability,
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FORSTER'S CRUSHER AND CRUSHER AND PULVERIZER,

The simple.it machine evw devised for the purpose.

We warrant 50 per cent, advantage in Crvph-mg. with one-third power, and in combined
Crushing and Pulverizing -do the work of stamp and Burrs at one-third first cost. Can be
Operated with any kind of power.

Address TOTTEN & CO., Pittsburg:, Pa.

tfi

BLAKE'S CHALLENGE" ROCK BREAKER.

Patented November 18» 1S79.
For IWa.cn.dani Rondmaking, Ballastingof Railroads. Crushing Oi*es?use of Iron Furnaces,

etc. Rapidly .sunersedingour oiVier at?/i«t of Blake Crusher on account of Its superior strength, ejfici-
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BLAKE CRUSHER CO., Sole Makers, New Havett, Conn*

Q8T1S NEW J|0_N gLQWIFi,

3E»OSia7iV33 BLAST.

IRON REVOLVERS, PERFECTLY BALANCED,

Has Fewer Parts than any other Blower.
P. H. & F. M. ROOTS, Manufacturers,

CONNERSV1LLE, IND.

S. S. TOWSSEKD, Gen. Agt.,6Cortle.ndSt.,8 Dey St.,
COOKE & CO., Selling Agrts., 6 Cortland Street,
J\S. BEGGS if, CO., Welling Agrts. 8 Dey Street,
IfXilV TORX.
SEND FOR PRICED CATALOGUE.

PAT. KEY SEAT CUTTER

WILL CUT 100 SEATS 4-/2X 5 /s INCH

Is VOL. 4-5. N55. 181

TREV0RX CO.LOCKPORT.N.Y.

P| ft O r O — Foursuperb Oil Pictures,

Icll^m^ 4ins. by 5 l 2 each, of choice
IIUULU Roses for Easter Cards,
will be found in Demorest's Monthly for

A^J 19 I | in addition to the usual
■ ^ IV I ssss quantity of excellent
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cents ; to be had from all Booksellers and
Newsdealers. W. Jenkings Demorest,
Publisher, 17 East 14th Street, New York.

SWEEPSTAKES, WITH THE ELLIS

Patent Journal Box. The best Planer and Matcher ever
made. PlaningSO In. wide, 6 In. thick, weight 2,200 lb.,
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licited. Rowley & Hermance, Williamsport, Pa.

*£"1 tfl 1 9 (1 ? e , r ^ a y athome. Samples worth f 5 free.

I Address Stinson & Co., Portland, Me.

GOI-B
PENT

Pen.

containing

PENCIL.S, HOLDFRS, CASES,

The CALLI-CRAPHIC

A GOLD PEN and RUBBER HOLDER _.,

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MABIE, TODD & BARD,
180 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

! Send for Price-Li st.

OUR GOODS AEE SOLD BY FIRST -CI.ASS DEALERS.

Series For 1882.

PC AElearant Imported deedjens, all Cliro-
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A Silver, Germ an A French Florals. Scenery from the
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CORRECT TIME ?

Jf you wantthe Best Time Keeper for theMoney that
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Lancaster Watch

Sold by Jewelers throughout the United States. Its
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Established 1874. Askf or the LANCASTER, PA.,
QUICK-TRAIN RAILROAD WATCHES.

$72

A WEEK. $12a iay at home easily made. Costly
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Geo. W. Read & Co.,

Manufacturers of aud Dealers in

MAHOGANY,

And all Foreign and Domestic

Cabinet "Woods.

BOLE MANUTACTURER?

CUT AM) PRESS DRIED

THIN LUMBER,

FOB

CIGAR BOXES,

Panel Stook, Etc., Etc.
Mills and Wareroomst

186 to 200 Lewis St., New York.

TOOLS for Machinists, Carpenters, Amateurs, Jewellers, Model
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ot Tools you require. TALLMAN & HcKAUDES,

60." Market St., PliUudclphU, Pa.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC

174

gtitUtiftt %VXtXUM.

[March 18, 1882.

StwrttetMMs.

Inside Page, each insertion - - - *
Back Page, each insertion - • - i

Y5 cents n line,
i 1.00 ft line.

(About eight words to a line.) ■

Engravings may head advertisements at the same rate
per line, by measurement, as the letterpress. Adver-
tisements must be received at publication office as early \
as Thursday morning to appear in next issue. '

GOLD MEDAL, PARIS, 1878. \

BAKER'S

Breakfast Cocoa.

"Warranted absolutely pur*
Cocoa, from which the excess of
Oil has been removed. It has three
times the strength of Cocoa mixed
with Starch, Arrowroot or Sugar,
and is therefore farmore economi-
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strengthening, easily digested, and
admirably adapted for invalids as
well as for persons in health.
Sold by Grocers everywhere.

W. BAKER & CO., Dorchester, Mass.

SDCPTAPl CC Thermometers, Opera Glasses,
iCU I ftULCO Microscopes, Barometers. Tele-
scopes, and Compasses. It, dt J. BECK,
Manufacturing Opticians, Philadelphia, Pa.
ICF^ Send for Illustrated Priced Catalogue.

TOOPE'S I^-A-TEUTO?

Asbestos Lined Removable Covering,

Madeof Feltand Asbestos. For „.
use on STEAM BOILERS and g|
PIPES, Refrigerators, Meat »
Cars, Ice Houses, and HOT and
COLD WATER PIPES. Easily applied by any one.
A&uress CHALMLRS-Sl'ENt'E CO.,

-2li John St., New York.

Electrician Wanted.— Experienced with Dynamos. Lib-
eral terms. Address A. HBYMAN, care Heller & Co.,
18 Liberty St., New York.

REW IUCKEYE EKGINE FOR BALE CHEAP.

Cylinder, H in. x 28 in. This engine has been running
only a few months, is guaranteed to be in perfect repair,
modern, and equal to any new one. Can be seen in
operation at planing mill of Lockland Lumber Co., Lock-
land, Ohio. Satisfactory reasons why this engine was
displaced by one of ours, of about the same size, will be
given on application.

DETROIT CUMMER ENGINE CO., Detroit, Mich.

PRESSURE MODERATOR

SAVES

20 to 50 M

per cent.

IN

Gas Bills

where they
amo unt to
over ?10
per month.

Suitable for
Residences, Factories,
Stores, Churches, etc. bec.3o"ie79

Every Moderator sold under
our guarantee. Money refunded
ifmachine fails to regulate and

Save gas as Stated. Send for Price List.

HOWARD MFC. CO.,

364 Broadway, New York.

"LAFARGI" PORTLAND CEMENT.
"BTJUHAM" Ensrlish PORTLAND CEMENT.
"KEENE" CEMENT (Coarse and Superfine).

These celebrated makes of imported cements for sale
by JAMES BRAND, 86 Beefcman St., New York.

MACHINERY

of every description. 121 Chambers and 103 Reade Sts.,
New York, THa George Place Machinery Agency.

BOOK WALTER EXGIXE.

Compact, Substantial, Econom-
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full power claimed- Engine and
Boiler complete, including Gov-
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price of

3 HOiieE POWER $240 00

i)4 " »' 280 00

9H " " 35500

m_ " •' UO 00

SPF" Put on cars at Springfield, O.
JAMES LEFFEL & CO.,

Springfield. Ohio,
or 110 Liberty St., New York.

ICE MAKING MACHINES,
COLD AIR MACHINES,

For Brewers, Pork Packers, Cold Stor-
age Warehouses, Hospitals, etc.

Send for Illustrated and Descriptive Circulars.

PICTET ARTIFICIAL, ICE CO. (Limited),

14'i Greenwich Street,

P.O. Box 3083. New York City, N. Y.

WESTER m.mm
'180 dbaj^bo^n: bt. chioago,

€i?gravii$s for Book ai?d all j5dvert

purposes

Cheaper feo? agy tffer Aetijotf '

ROOFING.

for steep or fiat roofs. Applied by ordinary workmen
at one-third the cost of tin. Circulars and samples free.
Agents Wanted. T. NEW, 32 John Street, New York.

ROCK DRILLS & AIR COMPRESSORS

a INCERSOLL ROCK DRILL CO.,

1 PARK PLACE NEW YORK.

Cameron Steam Pump.

OVER 30,000 IN USE.

Specially adapted for use in Gold, Silver, Coal, and
Iron Mines; also General Manufacturing and Fire Pumps.

Pumps furnished with movable Linings in Iron Com-
position, or Phosphor-Bronze,

THE k, S. CAMERON STEAM PUMP WORKS,
tfOOT EAST 23d ST., NEW YORK.

Ad engine that works without
Boiler. Alwaysreadyto be started
and to give at once full power.

SAFETY. ECONOMY,
I CONVENIENCE.

Burns common Gas and Air. No
steam, no coal, no ashes, no fires,
no danger, no extra insurance.
Almost no attendance.

THE NEW OTTO SILENT GAS ENGINE.

Useful forall work of small stationary steam-engine.
Built in sizes of '2, 4, and 7 H. P. by SCHLEICHER,
NCHII.tim & CO., 3045 Chestnut Street, Phila., -Pa.
A. V. Manning, 38 Dey St., New York, Agent.

Double Screw, Parallel, Leg Vises.

Mode and WARRANTED ttronger than any other Vise
by FISHER & NORMS onfy, Trenton. N.J. .

HEAVY PUNCHES, SHEARS,

Boiler Shop Rolls,
Radial Drills, Etc.

SEND TO

MILES & JONES

WILMINGTON, DEL.

At Low Prices. Lnrge Assorted Stock.
A. <& F. BROWN'. 59-H1 Lewis St., New York,

THE J. L. MOTT IRON WORKS,

8$ and 90 Beekirian St., New York.
Demarest's Patent Water Closets used almost
exclusively in all fine work. Demarest's Water
Closets, Latrine's and Hopper's for public buildings and
factories. IHott's Celebrated Porcelain Lined
Baths unequaled for beauty and cleanliness. Sani-
tary < toods of all kinds.

SHEPARD'S CELEBRATED
$eo

"crew Cutting Foot Lathe,

Foot and Power Lathes, Drill Presses,
Scrolls. Saw .Attachments, Chucks.Man-
drels. Twist Drills, Dogs. Calipers.'* Sun
Light " t-Jas machines, etc. Send
for catalogue of outfits for amateurs or
artisans. Address

H, I,. SIIEI'AIM) X. CO..
341 & 343 West Front St.,Ci ncinnati, O.

SPEAKING TELEPHONES.

THK UIKHICAN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY,

W. H. Forbes, W. R. Driver, Thko. N. Vail,
President. Treasurer. Qen. Manager.

Alexander Graham Bell's patent of March 7, 1876,
owned by this company, covers every form of apparatus,
including Microphones or Carbon Telephones, in which
the voice of the speaker causes electric undulations
corresponding to the words spoken, and which articula-
tions produce eimilar articulate sounds at the receiver.
The Commissioner of Patents and the U.S. Circuit Court
have decided this to be the true meaning of his claim ;
the validity of the patent has been sustained in the Cir-
cuit on final hearing in a contested case, and? cany in-
j unctions and final decrees have been obtained on them .

This company also owns and controls all the other
telephonic inventions of Bell, Edison, Berliner, Gray,
Blake, Phelps, Watson, and others.

(Descriptive catalogues forwarded on application.)

Telephones for Private Line, Club, and Social systems
can be procured directly or through the authorized
agents of the company.

All telephones obtained except from this company, or
its authorized licensees, are infringements, and the
makers, sellers, and users will be proceeded against.

Information furnished upon application.

Address all communications to the
AMERICAN KELL TELEPHONE COMPANY,
95 Milk Street* Boston, Mass.

WITI1ERBY, RUGG & RICHARDSON. Manufacturers

of Patent Wood Working Machinery of every descrip-
tion. Facilities unsurpassed. Shop formerly occupied
by K. Ball & Co., Worcester, Mass. Send for Catalogue.

Working Models

And Experimental Machinery, Metal or Wood, made to
order by J. F. WERNER, 62 Centre St., N. Y.

DO YOUR OWN PRINTING!

Presses and outfits from S3 to $800
Over 2,000 styles of type. Catalogue and
educed price list free.

H. HOOVER, Pbik., Pa-

Stevens' Roller Mills,

GRADUAL REDUCTION OF GRAIN.

Manufactured exclusively by
THE JOHN T. NOYE MFG. CO., Buffalo, N. Y.

COLUMBIA BICYCLE

Is what every boy wants and
what every man ought to have.
Send 3c. stamp for illustrated
catalogue, with price lists and full
information.

THE POPE M'F'G CO.,

597 Washington St., Boston, Mass.

Win. A. HARRIS.

PROVIDENCE, K. I. (PARK STREET),

Six minutes walk West from station.
Original and Only builder of the

HAKKIS-COKLISS ENOINE

With Harris' Patented Improvement.,
from TO to 1.000 H. P.

Pv^nmctoPG For showing heat of
*y* UllieiitSX », Ovens. Hot R last Pipes,
Boiler Flues. Superheated Steam, O 1 Stills, etc.

HENRY W. BTJLKLBY, Sole Manufacturer,

149 Broadway, New York.

THE BERRYMAN
Feed Water Heater

AND

PURIFIER,

FEED-PUMP.

THE
I. B. DAVIS

PATENT,
MAX, 18T9.

M'f't'd by

I. B. DAVIS
&S0N,

FKIEDMANN'S PATENT INJECTOR,

THE BEST

Boiler Feeder

IN THE WORLD.
Simple, Reliable, and Effective.

40,000 IJT ACTUAL USE.
NATHAN & DREYFUS,

Sole Manufacturers, NEW YORK.

Send for Descriptive Catalogue.

Jarvis Furnace Co.

Patent Setting for Steam Boilers Burns Screenings
and Slack Coal without Blast. No. 7 Oliver St. Boston;
P)o. 92 Liberty St., New York: No. 709 Market St., St.
Louis ; No. 18 second St., Baltimore.

THE STKONG-
est, most com-
plete, and reliable
of En ines and
Boilers. Special
sizes, 4 to 40 H. P.
Others on appli-
catlon. Also
Rock Drills, Wa-
ter Motors, and
machinery gen-
erally. Geo. W.
Tiflt, Sons & Co.,
Buffalo, N. Y.

ON 30 DAYS' TEIAL!

We will Send on 30 Days' Trial

Dr. Dye's Electro-Voltaic Belts, Suspensories,

And other Electrical Appliances TO MEN

suffering from Nervout Debility, Lost Vitality,
etc., speedily restoring Health and manhood.
Also for Rheumatism, Paralysis, Liver and
Kidney Trouble*, and many other diseases.
Illustrated pamphletf ree. Address

VOLTAIC BELT CO., Marshall, Mich.

PAYNE'S AUTOMATIC ENGINES.

Spark Arrester.
Reliable, durable, and economical, will furnish a

horse power with one-third less fuel and water than, awy otJier
engine built not fitted with an automatic cut-off. Send
for Illustrated Catalogue "A" 2, for Information and
prices. B. W. PAYNE & SONS,

Box 1!£07. Corning, N.Y.

USE MACHINERY WIPER CLOTHS.

Made by BROWN M'F'G CO., Providence, R. 1.

;t.-lJAJ^

■ THE STANDARD "

MAKES APERFECT JOINT

SIBLEY WNiLttiE of MECHAMC ARTS,

CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

Entrance examinations will be held June 12 and Sept. 11,
1882. For the Register and Catalogue just issued contain-
ing reorganized courses of instruction. Scientific and
Practical, including Draughting, Machine Construction,
General Shop Work, etc., apply to the
President of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.

K0RTING UNIVERSAL INJECTOR

DOUBLE TUBE "

FOR BOILER FEEDING
operaied/6y omXanitCe

WILL LIFT HOT WATER
tj, «jr * WORKING GUARANTEED
*&& SI — bend for Circu4ai- _.

■OFFICES AND WAREROOMS4 •

PHILADS. 1Z7? a THOMPSON STS.II NEW YORK 103 LIHERTYSt
BOSTON. 7 OLIVER ST II CHICAGO, 84< MARKET SI

HARTFORD

STEAM BOILER

Inspection & Insurance

. COMPANY.

W. B. FRANKLIN.V. Pres't. J, M. ALLEN, Prei't.
J. li. PIERCE, Sec'y.

- M

PWOHHS

' mem*

LIQUID PAINTS

ASBESTOS ROOFING.

ASBESTOS BOILER COVERINGS,
ASBESTOS LINING FELT.

ASBESTOS STEAM PACKING,
ASBESTOS WICK PACKING,
ASBESTOS FEAT P\CKING,
ASBESTOS MILLBOARD,
ASBESTOS GASKETS,

ASBESTOS SIIEATHINGS,

COATINGS, CE1MENTS, Etc.

Descriptive price lists and samples sent free.

H. W. JOHNS M'F'G CO.,

87 Maiden Lane, New York.

WATCHMAN'S IM-
proved Time Detector,
with Safety Lock At-
tachment, Patented 1875-
6-7-80-81, Beware of In-
fringements. This In-
strument is supplied with
12 keys for 12 stations.
Invaluable for all con-
cerns employing night
watchmen. Send for cir-
culars to E. ImHAUSER,
P.O.Box ,875. *12 Broadway, New York.

IRIDIUM:

THE HAEDEST METAL. -KNOWN.

Not attacked by acids or alkalies; not oxidized
in the ail*; almost infusible. Manufactured under
John Holland's process (patented May 10, 1881) by

THE AMERICAN IRIDIUM CO.,

S. E. Corner Pearl and Plnm Sts., Cincinnati, Ohio.

THE WALLACE DIAM0NDCARB0NS.

Telegraph, Telephone, and Electric Light Supplies.

THE EliECTRICAI. SUPPLY CO.,

109 Liberty St., New York.

Machinists' Tools.

New and Improved Patterns.
Send for new illustrated catalogue.

Lathes, Planers, Drills, &c.

NEW HAVEN OT ANCJ FAClTIMNfi CO.,
Sew Haven, €<>un.

WATCHMAKERS.

Before buying latbes, see the "Wbitcomb," made by
AMERICAN WATCH TOOL CO., Wa3tham, Mass.

ffiPROPE

Address JOHN A. ROEBLING'S SONS, Manufactur-
er*. Trenton, N. J ., or 117 Liberty street, New York.

"wheels and Rope for eonveyng power long distances.
Send for clrculr.

FOR A

COMBINED

Punch and Shears

of beautiful design, of great strength
and capacity, and thoroughly reli-
able, address

flU'Lambertville Iron Woiks,

LAMBERTVILLE, N. J.

PRINTING INKS,

THE "Scientific American" is printed with CHAS.
ESEU JOHNSON & CO.'S INK. Tenth and Lom-
bard StB. Philadelphia, and 59 Gold St., New York.

© 1882 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC